Central industrial property office

Organismos Biomichanikis Idioktissias (OBI)

(Industrial Property Organisation (OBI))

5, Pandanassis st.

Paradissos Amaroussiou

15125 ATHENS

Tel. (+ 30 210) 618 35 08, 618 35 48

Fax (+ 30 210) 681 92 31

www.obi.gr

1 Applicant can choose between EPO and national authorities (subject to column 2)

Yes

Art. 3 Pres. Decr. No. 77/88

2 Applications which must be filed with national authorities

A European application must be filed with OBI if the applicant is a Greek citizen and the priority of an earlier Greek application is not claimed.

Art. 23(1) Law No. 1733/87

Art. 3(2) Pres. Decr. No.77/88

3 Languages in which European patent applications must or may be filed with national authorities

Greek

English

French

German

(see also column 5)

Art. 4(1) Pres. Decr. No. 77/88

4 Official language(s)

Greek

5 Special features

The European application must be filed either in Greek or in one of the languages mentioned in Art. 14(1) EPC, ie English, French, German.

Art. 4(1) Pres. Decr. No. 77/88

European applications not filed in Greek must be accompanied by a Greek translation.

Art. 4(2) Pres. Decr. No. 77/88

European patent applications filed by persons not having their residence or principal place of business in Greece must indicate an address for service in Greece (a national representative to accept correspondence).

Art. 19(3) Pres. Decr. No. 77/88

Applications under column 2 may not be freely disseminated or utilised without the authorisation of the Minister responsible, which may be regarded as granted 30 days after filing if no provisional order that it be kept secret has been issued, or 125 days after filing if no final secrecy order has been issued. Law No. 4325/1963 gives further details.

Applications may also be filed by facsimile.*

* See decision of the President of the EPO and notice from the EPO: OJ EPO 1992, 299 and 306.

Art. 4 Min. Dec. No. 3111/EFA/433