Origin

Granted patents and uptake of the Unitary Patent

This graph shows the geographic origin of the patents granted by the EPO¹ based on the country of residence of the first patentee listed on the published patent² . Of the 109 524 patents granted by the EPO in 2024, 25.6% requested unitary effect, a single validation covering 18 EU member states. Uptake from patentees based in Europe was even higher, at 36.5%, comprising almost two thirds of all Unitary Patents.

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Source: EPO.
Status: 3.2.2025.
¹ The analysis is based on published patents granted by the EPO. 
² The geographic origin is based on the country of residence of the first patentee listed on the published patent. In cases where several patentees are mentioned on the published patent, the country of residence of the first patentee listed applies. 
³ EPO states: the 39 member states of the European Patent Organisation, which includes the 27 states of the EU.