Searches, examinations, oppositions

Total products – Searches, examinations, oppositions

In response to the ongoing continued growth in demand for patent protection in Europe, the EPO has taken significant steps in the past few years to modernise its internal structures and increase efficiency, while further improving its patent quality. The 2015 annual results show that the reforms are paying off: The number of products delivered by EPO patent examiners grew by 14% in 2015 to 365 000

Searches carried out

Examinations

Oppositions

The EPO offers a system of internal legal remedies to review its procedures and safeguard the quality of its patents. Anyone may oppose a European patent within a period of nine months from the mention of its grant. In 2015 the EPO issued around 3 713 opposition decisions and the opposition rate was 4,4%. In these cases, some 70% of the patents were upheld either as granted or in an amended form.

Patents opposed

Decisions in opposition cases