Annual Report 2015

Searches, examinations, oppositions

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Key figures 2015


Infographic 2015


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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
  • 2015
    238 077
  • 2014
    213 008
11.8%    
Examinations
  • 2015
    122 949
  • 2014
    103 915
18.3%    
Oppositions
  • 2015
    3 713
  • 2014
    3 157
17.6%    
Total
  • 2015
    364 739
  • 2014
    320 080
14.0%    

Searches carried out

European searches
  • 2015
    128 547
  • 2014
    102 088
25.9%    
International searches
  • 2015
    85 139
  • 2014
    84 257
1.0%    
Searches on behalf of
national offices and third
parties
  • 2015
    24 391
  • 2014
    26 663
-8.5%    
Total
  • 2015
    238 077
  • 2014
    213 008
11.8%    

Examinations

European examinations
  • 2015
    113 586
  • 2014
    96 062
18.2%    
International preliminary examinations
  • 2015
    9 363
  • 2013
    7 853
19.2%    
Total
  • 2015
    122 949
  • 2014
    103 915
18.3%    

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

Patents opposed

Decisions in opposition cases

Decisions in opposition cases 1) Oppositions must be filed at the EPO within nine months of the grant of the respective European patent. www.epo.org/applying/european/oppositions

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