EUROPEAN PATENT ORGANISATION
Ireland dispenses with the translation requirements under Article 65 EPC
On 3 September 2012 several amendments to Irish patent legislation came into effect, paving the way for Ireland's accession to the London Agreement.
Under the revised legislation, applicants are no longer required to file a translation into English of the specification of European patents granted in French or German on or after 3 September 2012 (mention published in the European Patent Bulletin). The fee for filing the translation has also been done away with.
As a consequence of this new legislation, the Irish Patents Office will no longer treat as void European patents which were granted in the six months prior to 3 September 2012 and for which a translation into English has not been filed.
For further information, see the Irish Patents Office website: www.patentsoffice.ie