The French IP Office, INPI, confirmed to Managing IP that France deposited its instrument of ratification in Germany on January 30.
The London Agreement on the application of Article 65 of the EPC, which was signed in 2000, can only enter into force once it has been ratified by eight EPC member states including the UK, Germany and France.
It enters into force on the first day of the fourth month after all the required states have deposited their instruments of ratification.
The French National Assembly and Senate approved ratification last year and President Sarkozy signed the Agreement in October.
But it has taken another three months for the country to deposit its instrument in Germany.
The cost of a typical European patent application will be reduced by up to 40% once the Agreement comes into force on May 1.
However, some applicants will feel the benefit before then. The UK IP Office has a three-month period for filing translations, so translations will not need to be filed in the UK for European patents granted from February 1 onwards.
The London Agreement covers Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
