The European Patent system allows seeking patent protection in up to 40 European countries (38 members plus 2 extension states).

Currently the 38 members of the European Patent Organization are: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Former Yugoslav Republic of, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino and Turkey.

Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro are currently the 2 Extension Sates.

The European Patent procedures (searches, exams, limitation/revocation, refusals, grants appeals, oppositions, etc.) are recognized by the users as find significant and consolidated results, based on well-established case law decisions.

The European Patent Office is certified under the ISO 9001 standard and entire patent process is covered by the Quality Management System.

The Qualified European Patent Attorneys have to pass the one of the most demanding professional examinations in the world that tests candidates' technical and legal knowledge and aptitude to represent applicants in all European Patent proceedings.

Please note that Portugal did not ratify the London Agreement and for this reason in order to validate the European Granted Patent it is mandatory to translate the whole text, file it and pay the official fees at the Portuguese Patent Office by an Official Portuguese Agent under Articles 79.º to 82.º of the Portuguese Industrial Property Code.

Please be informed that Today Patents has professional representation in the quality of Official Industrial Property Agents and for this reason no Power of Attorney form or further documents are required.

Whenever the European Patent Office grants a Patent the patentee must select an Official Portuguese Agent to submit at the National Industrial Property Institute a Portuguese translation of the description, claims, abstract and drawings, paying the required fees in order to the patent be validated in Portugal.

The official request, payment of the fees and the Portuguese translation of the European patent shall be submitted to the National Industrial Property Institute within three months of the date of publication in the European Patent Bulletin of the grant or, if applicable, of the date of the notice on an opposition or limitation of the European patent. A further one month of its end time extension is possible against payment of a surcharge calculated with reference to the national patent application fee.

The Trademarks & Designs in European Union system allows seeking protection with just a single application in 28 Countries.

Currently the 28 members of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

If the applicant is a legal or natural person that is not established within the European Economic Area the professional representation before EUIPO is mandatory and if the applicant has its domicile in the European Economic Area there is no obligation to be represented but given the complexity of industrial property documents and the legal skills required it is highly advisable from the International authorities to seek legal assistance from a trademark/design attorney/agent.

* European Union Trademarks filings in 2015 = 130 401

* European Union Designs filings in 2015 = 97 500

* Top applicant countries for European Union Trademarks in 2015: Germany, United States, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, China and Poland.

* Top applicant countries for European Union Designs in 2015: Germany, Italy, United States, France, UK, China, Poland, Spain, Japan and Austria.

The Trademarks & Designs in European Union system allows seeking protection with just a single application in 28 Countries.

Currently the 28 members of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

If the applicant is a legal or natural person that is not established within the European Economic Area the professional representation before EUIPO is mandatory and if the applicant has its domicile in the European Economic Area there is no obligation to be represented but given the complexity of industrial property documents and the legal skills required it is highly advisable from the International authorities to seek legal assistance from a trademark/design attorney/agent.

* European Union Trademarks filings in 2015 = 130 401

* European Union Designs filings in 2015 = 97 500

* Top applicant countries for European Union Trademarks in 2015: Germany, United States, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, China and Poland.

* Top applicant countries for European Union Designs in 2015: Germany, Italy, United States, France, UK, China, Poland, Spain, Japan and Austria.