Contracting States

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom

Extension States

Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Latvia
Lithuania
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Romania
Serbia and Montenegro Slovenia

National legal basis

Filing patent applications

Rights conferred

Translations of claims

Tranlations of patent specifications

Authentic text

Renewal fees

Conversion

Payment of fees

Registering a transfer

Miscellaneous 

This table lists (not necessarily all) the contracting and extension states’ important national legal sources (laws, regulations, decrees etc.) of significance for European patent applications and patents and, for the most part, also referred to in the subsequent tables. The title of these legal sources is given in the official language of the states in question. Where necessary, a translation in the official language of the EPO in which this summary is published is given underneath in italics in square brackets. To keep this table within a reasonable size, the "original title" in the case of states with more than one official language is given only in the language which is also one of the official languages of the EPO.

The dates on which the various items of referenced legislation entered into force have not been included, as this would have cluttered up the tables - especially in cases where some articles of certain laws and regulations entered into force at different times.

Where the Office knows of translations into one of the official languages of the EPO of the legal sources listed, these are referenced. It should be noted, however, that these translations are not always up-to-date and that at all times only the original version given in the official publications is the authentic text.

Please note that as from 2002, paper publication of WIPO’s “Intellectual Property Laws and Treaties” and “Lois et traités de propriété intellectuelle” has been abandoned and the periodicals consist only of the legislative inserts which are regularly published in electronic form on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.org/cfdiplaw/en/laws_treaties). In addition, English and French translations of intellectual property legislation are to be found in WIPO’s international electronic archive “Collection of Laws for Electronic Access (CLEA)” (http://clea.wipo.int).

The abbreviations used in the subsequent tables have been introduced for the sake of clarity and do not always coincide with the official abbreviations used in the contracting states.