WEEKLY NEWS - OCTOBER 10, 2007
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France backs London Agreement
James Nurton and Emma Barraclough, London
The French Senate has overwhelmingly voted for the adoption of the London Agreement, clearing the way for lower patent costs throughout Europe
The Senate voted for the Agreement by 280 votes to 33 last night, following a four-hour debate.
That followed a vote in favour of the Agreement in the National Assembly on September 26.
The London Agreement on the application of Article 65 of the European Patent Convention is now expected to come into force in the first half of 2008.
Countries that sign it agree to waive the requirement for translations of European patents to be filed in their national language.
In practice, therefore, applicants will not have to translate the specification of their patents for London Agreement contracting states which have one of the three EPO languages (English, French and German) as an official language or which have prescribed one of those three languages for the purposes of the Agreement.
The Senate also backed the adoption of the EPC 2000 without the need for a vote count.
The EPC 2000 is designed to modernize the EPO’s procedures for granting patents. It is expected to come into effect for all EPC member states on December 13.
Reaction to the vote here.
