Validation of European Patents in Moldova

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It will soon be possible to validate European patents and European patent applications in the Republic of Moldova. Following Morocco earlier this year, the validation agreement between the EPO and Moldova will enter into force on 1 November 2015. Similar to Morocco, Moldova is not a contracting state of the EPC, but will now recognise a European patent.

Validation will be deemed requested for any European patent application or International (PCT) application filed on or after 1 November 2015. Validation will not, however, be available for any applications filed prior to 1 November 2015 or any European patent resulting from such applications.

To validate a European patent or application in Moldova, the validation fee (EUR 200.00) must be paid within six months of the date the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the European search report. For European national phase applications the validation fee is due the later of this deadline and 31 months from the earliest priority date.

Once validated, a European patent will confer the same legal protection in Moldova as for a national Moldovan patent. An increase in foreign investment in Moldova could therefore be expected following the entry into force this November.

For more information, please contact one of our patent attorneys via our website at aathornton.wpengine.com. At A.A. Thornton & Co. our patent attorneys are qualified to advise on all aspects of UK and European patent law. The services of our patent attorneys are listed here.


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