File a European patent — one application, one examination
A single application examined by the European Patent Office gives you a granted patent you can validate in the EPC contracting states — or elect the new Unitary Patent for unified coverage across the participating EU member states.
- Single EPO examination grants rights validated in the EPC contracting states
- Unitary Patent option — participating EU states with one annuity payment
- Filed and prosecuted by qualified European Patent Attorneys (EPAs)
- Coordinated post-grant validation, translations & UPC strategy
Step One — Strategy & Search
Start with a fixed-fee engagement to validate patentability under the EPC before committing to full drafting. Step Two ($5,800) only if you proceed.
- Patentability search and EPO search-report-style assessment
- Drafting strategy for EPC formal requirements (Art. 84 / Rule 43)
- UPC opt-out / Unitary Patent election guidance
- Validation country shortlist and translation cost forecast
"The EPO is the highest-quality patent grant in the world. We draft to EPC Article 84 standards from day one — that's how you avoid years of clarity objections."
GTC Patents Team
Qualified European Patent Attorneys
Understanding European Patents
The EPO grants the highest-quality examined patents in the world — but the EPC system has unique formal and validation rules every applicant should understand.
What Is a European Patent?
A European patent is granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) under the European Patent Convention (EPC). One application, one examination — once granted, it becomes a 'bundle' of national patents in any of the EPC contracting states you choose to validate in. The EPC is broader than the EU and includes the UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Turkey.
Validation vs Unitary Patent
After grant, you have two options: (1) validate in selected EPC states (each becomes a national patent with its own annuities and enforcement), or (2) elect the Unitary Patent — a single legal title covering the participating EU member states with one annuity. The two are not mutually exclusive: you can elect Unitary for EU-17 and validate separately in the UK, CH, ES, etc.
Designs Go to the EUIPO, Not the EPO
Industrial designs are filed at the EUIPO as Registered Community Designs (RCD), covering all the EU member states with one application. The EPO does not handle designs. We file both — patents at the EPO and designs at the EUIPO — through coordinated workflows.
What Can Be Patented in Europe (Art. 52 EPC)
European patents protect inventions that are new, involve an inventive step, and are susceptible of industrial application. Excluded from patentability: discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, aesthetic creations, schemes for performing mental acts, and computer programs 'as such' (though software with a technical effect is patentable). Methods of medical treatment are also excluded.
EPC vs EU vs Eurozone — quick reference
All EPO contracting states — includes UK, Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Iceland. Where you can validate a granted European patent.
EUIPO designs (RCDs) and EU trademarks (EUTMs) cover all the EU member states. Subset of EPC for patent validation.
participating EU states (DE, FR, IT, NL, etc.) — single annuity, single enforcement at the UPC. Spain, Poland and Croatia are not participating.
Why File Your European Patent with Us?
Qualified European Patent Attorney representation, fixed pricing, and full post-grant validation strategy — built for inventors and growth-stage companies entering the European market.
Qualified European Patent Attorney (EPA) Representation
EPO filings are prosecuted by qualified European Patent Attorneys admitted to the European Patent Institute (epi). Foreign applicants are required to be represented by an EPA before the EPO — we handle that representation directly through our EPA partner network coordinated by senior IP counsel.
Fixed Professional Fees, Transparent Pass-Through
EPO drafting and filing at fixed fee starting from $4,500. EPO official fees (~€1,800 for filing, search, and examination) are passed through at cost — no markup. Validation cost forecasts and translation budgets provided up-front so you can plan your country selection with full visibility.
Drafted to EPC Article 84 Standards
The EPO has the strictest clarity, support, and unity requirements of any major patent office. Applications drafted to US standards alone routinely incur multiple Article 84/123(2) objections. We draft from day one with EPC formal requirements in mind — fewer office actions, faster grant.
Validation & UPC Strategy Coordinated In-House
Post-grant, we coordinate validation in your selected EPC states (translations, local agents, fees), Unitary Patent election, and UPC opt-out filings — all from a single point of contact. London Agreement countries are flagged for translation savings.
Dedicated Case Management & Deadline Tracking
European patent prosecution has unique deadlines: 6-month RFE window, 4-month Rule 71(3) response, 3-month validation window, 9-month opposition cliff, and per-country annuities from year 3. Every deadline is docketed and surfaced in your client dashboard.
"EPO grants are the gold standard — they're cited as prior art in courts on every continent. Drafting to EPC standards from the start saves you years of clarity objections and gives you a stronger asset for licensing."
GTC Patents Team
Qualified European Patent Attorneys
Total Cost of European Patent Filing
All-in budget scenarios from filing through year-5 annuities. EPO official fees and national annuities are passed through at cost; our professional fees are fixed.
Unitary Patent (UP-eligible 17 EU)
Single annuity, single enforcement at the UPC
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & EPO Filing | $5,800 |
| EPO Official Fees (filing/search/exam) | ~€1,800 (~$1,950) |
| Grant + UP Election + Translations | ~€700 (~$760) |
| UP Annuities Years 3–5 (combined) | ~€1,500 (~$1,625) |
Classic European Validation
DE, FR, GB, IT, ES — most common European footprint
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & EPO Filing | $5,800 |
| EPO Official Fees | ~€1,800 (~$1,950) |
| 5× Validation (incl. local agents) | ~$3,500 |
| Translations (London Agreement applied) | ~$1,800 |
| National Annuities Years 3–5 | ~€2,000 (~$2,165) |
Broad European Validation
Major European markets + select smaller states
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & EPO Filing | $5,800 |
| EPO Official Fees | ~€1,800 (~$1,950) |
| 10× Validation (incl. local agents) | ~$7,000 |
| Translations (mixed London/non-London) | ~$3,500 |
| National Annuities Years 3–5 | ~€4,500 (~$4,875) |
Included in our professional fees
- Patentability search and EPC clarity / unity assessment
- Specification, claims, abstract drafted to Article 84 standards
- EPO-compliant patent drawings (up to 10 figures)
- EPO filing in EN/FR/DE and Request for Examination
- Examination response strategy and oral proceedings preparation
- Validation country shortlist and translation cost forecast
- Deadline tracking through grant and validation
Office Action responses, oral proceedings, opposition defense (9-month post-grant window), UPC opt-out filings, and PACE accelerated prosecution requests are quoted separately when applicable. National annuities scale steeply after year 5.
The Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
The biggest change to European patents in 50 years. A single legal title covering the participating EU states, enforced by a single court — but with strategic trade-offs every applicant should understand.
When the Unitary Patent makes sense
- Single annuity payment covers all participating EU states (vs separate national annuities)
- Single-action enforcement at the Unified Patent Court — one injunction, all participating states
- Lower administrative overhead — no per-country renewal tracking
- Strong signal of EU-wide commercial intent for licensing and M&A
Trade-offs to consider
- All-or-nothing: cannot abandon individual countries to save costs as the patent ages
- Single-action revocation risk — UPC invalidation removes protection in all participating states at once
- Spain, Poland, and Croatia are not participating — separate national validation required
- UK is not in the Unitary Patent (post-Brexit) — separate UK validation always required
UPC opt-out for classic European patents
Even if you don't elect the Unitary Patent, your validated European patents are by default subject to the UPC's jurisdiction in participating EU states. During the 7-year transitional period (extendable to 14 years), patentees can opt out — keeping enforcement and validity disputes in national courts. We file UPC opt-outs at no extra fee as part of validation. Opt-outs can be withdrawn later if your strategy changes (provided no national-court action has been started).
EPO vs National vs PCT-Only — Which Route?
For multiple European countries, the EPO route is almost always cheaper and produces a stronger granted patent. PCT buys you time; national filings make sense only for 1–2 target markets.
| Feature |
Best Value
EPO Route
|
National Filings | PCT Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single examination across the EPC states | |||
| Cost-effective for multiple countries | |||
| Unitary Patent election available | |||
| Single-action UPC enforcement | |||
| Buys time before national decisions | Up to 30 months | ||
| EPO-quality examination | Varies by office | ||
| London Agreement translation savings | |||
| Best for 1–2 countries only |
The PCT route and the EPO route are not mutually exclusive — most applicants use PCT to buy time, then enter the EPO regional phase at month 31.
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European Patent Prosecution Lifecycle
From Step One engagement through grant and validation — typically 36–48 months. PACE accelerated prosecution can shorten this to 18–24 months for time-critical filings.
Strategy & Patentability Search
EPO-style prior-art search, EPC clarity assessment, and a written strategy memo on country selection, Unitary Patent eligibility, and PCT vs direct EP routing.
Drafting in EN / FR / DE
Specification, independent and dependent claims, abstract, and EPO-compliant drawings. Drafted to Article 84 (clarity), Rule 43 (claim form), and Article 123(2) (added-matter) standards.
EPO Filing & Filing Receipt
Application filed at the EPO via Online Filing 2.0 with Request for Examination. You receive a filing receipt with your application number and official filing date — your earliest priority date.
EPO Search Report + Written Opinion
EPO examiner conducts a thorough prior-art search and issues a search report with a Written Opinion on patentability. Most substantive issues are flagged here — strategic claim amendments often filed in response.
Confirm Examination Request
Examination fee paid and request confirmed within 6 months of the search report's publication. Application enters substantive examination by the EPO Examining Division.
Examination — Article 94(3) Communications
1–3 examination communications typical. Each requires a response (usually within 4 months, extendable). Oral proceedings can be summoned to resolve outstanding objections in person or by videoconference.
Rule 71(3) Intent to Grant & Translations
EPO sends 'intent to grant' with proposed text. Within 4 months: approve text, pay grant fee, file claim translations into the two non-proceedings languages. The patent is then published in the European Patent Bulletin.
Validation OR Unitary Patent Election
Validate in selected EPC states (translations + national agents required) OR elect the Unitary Patent for participating EU states. The 9-month opposition window also opens — third parties may oppose at the EPO.
Benefits of European patent registration
- Single examination across the EPC contracting states — one of the highest-quality patent grants in the world
- 20-year exclusive rights from filing date in every validated state
- Unitary Patent option provides single-effect protection across participating EU states with one annuity
- Single-action enforcement at the Unified Patent Court (UPC) for participating EU states
- Cost-effective for any applicant targeting multiple European countries
- London Agreement reduces post-grant translation costs by 50–80% in many states
- Defensive value — your published EP application becomes prior art across Europe
- Recognized intangible asset for EU IPO listings, M&A due diligence, and licensing deals
What you'll need to get started
- 1Invention disclosure — written description of how your invention works (and why it's new)
- 2Inventorship — full legal names and addresses (separate inventor designation within 16 months from priority)
- 3Sketches or drawings (we redraft to EPO standards)
- 4Priority documents — certified copies of any earlier US/PCT/national application claiming priority
- 5Power of Attorney to your qualified European Patent Attorney (EPA)
We treat all disclosures as confidential. For detailed technical information, we recommend signing an NDA before the second meeting.
Beyond Europe — Coordinated Global IP Protection
A European patent is rarely filed in isolation. We coordinate global patent filings, trademarks, and designs from a single point of contact.
PCT International Filing
One application preserves rights in many countries for up to 30 months — most applicants enter the EPO regional phase at month 31.
Learn more about pct international filingUS Patent (USPTO)
USPTO-registered patent attorneys for provisional, utility, and design patents. Two-step pricing from $699.
Learn more about us patent (uspto)UK National Patent
Standalone UK national filings via UKIPO — useful for UK-only inventions or alongside EPO validation.
Learn more about uk national patentIndia Patent (IPO)
Registered Indian Patent Agents. Two-step pricing from $400. DPIIT 80% startup rebate handled in-house.
Learn more about india patent (ipo)EU Trademark (EUIPO)
Single EUTM application covers all the EU member states. We coordinate EUTMs alongside EPO patents and RCD designs.
Learn more about eu trademark (euipo)All Patent Jurisdictions
Browse the full list of patent jurisdictions we file in — US, EPO, India, China, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, and PCT.
Learn more about all patent jurisdictionsFrequently asked questions
Filing in multiple countries?
Consider PCT international instead of EPO alone.
One PCT application filed via WIPO preserves your priority right in many countries for up to 30/31 months — including the EPO route — giving you 18 extra months to evaluate commercial viability before committing to national-phase filings.
Request your European patent consultation
Tell us about your invention. A qualified European Patent Attorney will respond within one business day. All disclosures are treated as confidential.
Start your patent application
Tell us about your invention through our guided intake. A senior patent professional reviews your European Patent Office filing goals and responds with a strategy and Step One quote — no payment required upfront.
- Registered patent attorneys & agents — confidential consultation
- Flat $699 Step One — strategy, prior-art search & filing-route recommendation
We respond within one business day. No obligation.
