Serbia Ratifies European Patent Convention

On May 26, 2010, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on Ratification of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents, commonly known as the European Patent Convention (EPC). The law was published on June 17, 2010 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, International Agreements, No. 5/2010 and came into force in Serbia on June 25, 2010.

By ratification of the EPC, Serbia has fulfilled basic conditions for becoming a full member of the European Patent Organization (EPO) and will achieve this status after depositing the instrument of ratification with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is expected in the near future.

It has been possible to extend European Patents to Serbia since November 1, 2004, after Serbia signed the Co-operation and Extension Agreement with the EPO. In June 2008, the Administrative Council of the EPO invited Serbia to accede to the EPC, which currently provides a uniform application procedure for individual inventors and companies seeking patent protection in up to 40 European countries – 37 contracting states and 3 extension states. Applicants can obtain patent protection in as many of the contracting and extension countries as they designate on the application.

For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic at our Balkan Regional Office.

Source: Serbian IPO