EPC will enter into force on 13/12/2007 at the latest
26.02.2006
Under Article 8(1) of the Revision Act, the revised European Patent Convention will enter into force two years after the fifteenth state has deposited its instrument of ratification or accession
On 13 December 2005, Greece became the fifteenth state to deposit its instrument of ratification of the Act of 29 November 2000 revising the European Patent Convention (Revision Act).Under Article 8(1) of the Revision Act, the revised European Patent Convention will enter into force two years after the fifteenth state has deposited its instrument of ratification or accession, or on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession by the state taking this step as the last of all the contracting states.The EPC 2000 will therefore enter into force on 13 December 2007 at the latest.Such states as have not ratified or acceded to the EPC 2000 at the time of its entry into force will cease to be party to the European Patent Organisation as from that time.
