A happy anniversary for the European patent system

In 2007 we celebrated the 30th anniversaryof the signing of the European PatentConvention (EPC). This historic agreementsaw the creation of the European PatentOffice (EPO) – a one-stop shop through whichthose seeking patent protection in Europecan submit a single application that, if itsuccessfully navigates the examinationprocess, can be converted into nationalpatent rights in as many European PatentOrganisation member states as the applicantso wishes.