Foreign Patent Applications
A Patent is a national right, and as such, if you require protection for your invention in a particular country, a granted Patent must ultimately be obtained in that country.Foreign Patent Applications can be filed independently and will take the date of filing of the Application. Alternatively, foreign Patent Applications can be filed within the first year from filing the UK Informal Patent Application and will take the filing date of the UK Application. These foreign Patent Applications may include an International Patent Application, a regional Patent Application, such as a European Patent Application, or a national Patent Application. Regional Patent Applications can be filed covering the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Eurasian territories.
European Patent Applications
A European Patent Application is prosecuted as a single Patent Application until grant, whereupon it is divided into individual National Patents of the countries designated in the European Patent Application. Translation of the Patent in each of the European countries in which protection is required then need to be filed in each Patent Office of the relevant country.
The countries indicated below, including the two-letter code, are currently members of the European Patent Convention (EPC):
AL | Albania |
AT | Austria |
BE | Belgium |
BG | Bulgaria |
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CH | Switzerland |
CY | Cyprus |
CZ | Czech Republic |
DE | Germany |
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DK | Denmark |
EE | Estonia |
ES | Spain |
FI | Finland |
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FR | France |
GB | United Kingdom |
GR | Greece |
HR | Croatia |
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HU | Hungary |
IE | Ireland |
IS | Iceland |
IT | Italy |
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LI | Liechtenstein |
LT | Lithuania |
LU | Luxembourg |
LV | Latvia |
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MC | Monaco |
MK | Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |
MT | Malta |
NL | Netherlands |
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NO | Norway |
PL | Poland |
PT | Portugal |
RO | Romania |
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SE | Sweden |
SI | Slovenia |
SK | Slovakia |
SM | San Marino |
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TR | Turkey |
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In addition, the following Extension states can be designated: |
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BA | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
ME | Montenegro |
RS | Serbia |
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International Patent Applications
An International Patent Application merely facilitates the filing of Patent Applications in most of the major markets in the world but does not actually result in an International Patent being granted. The International Application process can last for a maximum period of 30 months from the filing date of the original UK Informal Patent Application, whereafter national or regional phase Patent Applications in the designated countries need to be filed. A search, and optionally preliminary examination, can be undertaken as part of the International procedure.
The following states (142 in total as of 1st May 2010) can be designated in an International Patent Application, being contracted to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Where a state can be designated for a regional Patent, the two-letter code for the regional Patent concerned is indicated in parentheses (AP = ARIPO Patent, EA = Eurasian Patent, EP = European Patent, OA = OAPI patent). (1) = Extension of European Patent possible. (2) May only be designated for a regional Patent (the 'national route' via the PCT has been closed).
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AE |
United Arab Emirates |
GH |
Ghana (AP) |
MZ |
Mozambique (AP) |
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AG |
Antigua and Barbuda |
GM |
Gambia (AP) |
NA |
Namibiar (AP) |
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AL |
Albania (EP) |
GN |
Guinea (OA)(2) |
NE |
Niger (OA)(2) |
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AM |
Armenia (EA) |
GQ |
Equitorial Guinea (OA)(2) |
NG |
Nigeria |
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AO |
Angola |
GR |
Greece (EP)(2) |
NI |
Nicaragua |
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AT |
Austria (EP) |
GT |
Guatemala |
NL |
Netherlands (EP)(2) |
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AU |
Australia |
GW |
Guinea-Bissau (OA)(2) |
NO |
Norway (EP) |
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AZ |
Azerbaijan (EA) |
HN |
Honduras |
NZ |
New Zealand |
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BA |
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) |
HR |
Croatia (EP) |
OM |
Oman |
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BB |
Barbados |
HU |
Hungary (EP) |
PE |
Peru |
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BE |
Belgium (EP)(2) |
ID |
Indonesia |
PG |
Papua New Guinea |
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BF |
Burkina Faso (OA)(2) |
IE |
Ireland (EP)(2) |
PH |
Philippines |
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BG |
Bulgaria (EP) |
IL |
Israel |
PL |
Poland (EP) |
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BH |
Bahrain |
IN |
India |
PT |
Portugal (EP) |
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BJ |
Benin (OA) (2) |
IS |
Iceland (EP) |
RO |
Romania (EP) |
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BR |
Brazil |
IT |
Italy (EP)(2) |
RS |
Serbia (1) |
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BW |
Botswana (AP) |
JP |
Japan |
RU |
Russian Federation (EA) |
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BY |
Belarus (EA) |
KE |
Kenya (AP) |
SC |
Seychelles |
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BZ |
Belize |
KG |
Krygyzstan (EA) |
SD |
Sudan (AP) |
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CA |
Canada |
KM |
Comoros |
SE |
Sweden (EP) |
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CF |
Central African Republic (OA)(2) |
KN |
Saint Kitts & Nevis |
SG |
Singapore |
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CG |
Congo (OA) (2) |
KP |
Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
SI |
Slovenia (EP)(2) |
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CH |
Switzerland (EP) |
KR |
Republic of Korea |
SK |
Slovakia (EP) |
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CI |
Côte d'Ivoire (OA)(2) |
KZ |
Kazakhstan (EA) |
SL |
Sierra Leone (AP) |
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CL |
Chile |
LA |
Lao People's Democratic Republic |
SM |
San Marino (EP) |
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CM |
Cameroon (OA)(2) |
LC |
Saint Lucia |
SN |
Senegal (OA)(2) |
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CN |
China |
LI |
Liechtenstein (EP) |
ST |
Sao Tome and Principe |
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CO |
Columbia |
LK |
Sri Lanka |
SV |
El Salvador |
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CR |
Costa Rica |
LR |
Liberia (AP) |
SY |
Syrian Arab Republic |
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CU |
Cuba |
LS |
Lesotho (AP) |
SZ |
Swaziland (AP)(2) |
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CY |
Cyprus (EP)(2) |
LT |
Lithuania (EP) |
TD |
Chad (OA)(2) |
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CZ |
Czech Republic (EP) |
LU |
Luxembourg (EP) |
TG |
Togo (OA)(2) |
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DE |
Germany (EP) |
LV |
Latvia (EP)(2) |
TJ |
Tajikistan (EA) |
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DK |
Denmark (EP) |
LY |
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
TH |
Thailand |
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DM |
Dominica |
MA |
Morocco |
TM |
Turkmenistan (EA) |
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DO |
Dominican Republic |
MC |
Monaco (EP)(2) |
TN |
Tunisia |
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DZ |
Algeria |
MD |
Republic of Moldova (EA) |
TR |
Turkey (EP) |
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EC |
Ecuador |
ME |
Montenegro (1) |
TT |
Trinidad and Tobago |
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EE |
Estonia (EP) |
MG |
Madagascar |
TZ |
United Republic of Tanzania (AP) |
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EG |
Egypt |
MK |
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (EP) |
UA |
Ukraine |
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ES |
Spain (EP) |
ML |
Mali (OA)(2) |
UG |
Uganda (AP) |
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FI |
Finland (EP) |
MN |
Mongolia |
US |
United States of America |
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FR |
France (EP)(2) |
MR |
Mauritania (OA)(2) |
UZ |
Uzbekistan |
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GA |
Gabon (OA)(2) |
MT |
Malta (EP)(2) |
VC |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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GB |
United Kingdom (EP) |
MW |
Malawi (AP) |
VN |
Viet Nam |
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GD |
Grenada |
MX |
Mexico |
ZA |
South Africa |
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GE |
Georgia |
MY |
Malaysia |
ZM |
Zambia (AP) |
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ZW |
Zimbabwe (AP) |
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Our Services
We are able to facilitate the filing, prosecution and maintenance of Patents and Patent Applications in most countries in the world as a result of our network of Foreign Associates. Our technical staff can advise you of the filing requirements for any country of interest.