Costs not lost in translation

Changes to the European patent process could help UK manufacturers compete more effectively in European markets, according to

, a UK firm of patent and trade mark attorneys.

The changes to the patent process, due to take effect on 1 May 2008, are being introduced as a result of the ‘London Agreement’, which has recently been ratified by the French government, allowing the changes to come into effect this year.

The new process for obtaining European patent protection will typically be 40 per cent cheaper, according to the European Patent Office. This is because, once the patent has been granted, the full text of the patent will no longer have to be translated into the language of the country where protection is sought, which has traditionally meant expensive translation costs. From 1 May, UK companies filing their application in English will not be required to pay for any subsequent translations and will be able to obtain patent protection in 14 participating European states.