Still a misnomer, although the European Union Patent [q.v.] will more closely resemble a European Patent than the bundle of national rights that the European Patent Office has been granting so far in its existence.
Although the patents making up that bundle are referred to as European Patents, they are effective only in the contracting states which the applicant has designated. In EPO documents, including published versions of the application and the granted patent, the letters "EP" precede the patent's number in much the same way that the letters "GB" would be used internationally to identify a UK patent (although there are better examples). If the patent is then the subject of legal proceedings, it will be referred to as a European Patent (UK).
Although the patents making up that bundle are referred to as European Patents, they are effective only in the contracting states which the applicant has designated. In EPO documents, including published versions of the application and the granted patent, the letters "EP" precede the patent's number in much the same way that the letters "GB" would be used internationally to identify a UK patent (although there are better examples). If the patent is then the subject of legal proceedings, it will be referred to as a European Patent (UK).
No comments:
Post a Comment