EUROPEAN PATENT UPDATE

Norway has joined the London Agreement with effect from 1 January 2015: it is now possible, under certain conditions, to dispense with filing a Norwegian translation of the patent specification for European patents validated in Norway.

The London Agreement came into force in Norway on 1 January 2015, with the effect that no Norwegian translation of the European patent specification needs be supplied for European patents valid in Norway granted on or after 1 January 2015, providing that the patent is granted in English or that an English translation of the patent is supplied. A Norwegian translation of the claims must still be provided.

The new rules do not apply to European patents amended in opposition, appeal or limitation proceedings which were granted before 1 January 2015 and amended on or after that date.

Norway is the 21st state to join the London Agreement, which is an optional arrangement aiming to reduce translation costs of European patents: other member states are Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

More info
EPO page on London Agreement