2.1 Request for unitary effect

Requests for unitary effect must be filed with the EPO no later than one month after the mention of the European patent's grant is published in the European Patent Bulletin (Rule 6 of the Rules relating to Unitary Patent Protection). To offer flexibility, users can file requests after the decision to grant the European patent is issued (EPO Form 2006A), see Supplementary publication 3, OJ EPO 2023. Requests for unitary effect filed early will not be processed by the EPO before the date on which the mention of the European patent's grant is published in the European Patent Bulletin and will appear in the Register for unitary patent protection only from that date.