European Commission looks to slash patent approval costs

The European Commission has put forward a series of measures designed to make it easier for EU businesses to attain patents for inventions by reducing the cost by up to 80 per cent.

The translation and administrative costs of submitting a patent can reach £28,000, of which £20,000 can arise from translation fees alone, when patent protection is sought in the EU, the Commission said.

Under the new proposals, the cost for a patent covered under a single patent system in 25 EU member states would be £605 upfront and would not subsequently rise above £2,225.

This will be done by allowing firms to submit an application in any language, and to be compensated by the Commission for the translation work to produce it in French, German or English, the three official languages of the European Patent Office.

If the patent is granted, the claim will be translated into the other two languages as well.

Michel Barnier, internal market and services commissioner, explained that the move would leave businesses of all sizes in a better position to develop new products knowing that they had improved protection across the EU.

"The purpose of unitary patent protection is to make innovation cheaper and easier for businesses and inventors everywhere in Europe. It will mean a big reduction in terms of costs and red tape, and provide a stimulus for European innovation," he said.

"It will be accessible for all companies in the EU, no matter where they are based. It is my deeply held conviction that there is no sustainable economic growth without innovation and no innovation without efficient intellectual property protection."

Jonathan Zuck, president of the Association for Competitive Technology, welcomed the move and said that reducing the cost of applying for patents will benefit companies across the EU.

"These are very significant savings, particularly for SMEs. A cheaper and easier EU-wide patent protection system will allow innovative entrepreneurs to fully develop their businesses and spend their money on what they do best: innovating," he said.

"We hope Spain and Italy join the enhanced co-operation soon so the new patent system covers the entire EU. We have been waiting a long time and simply cannot afford to do so any longer."

Spain and Italy remain opposed to the introduction of a single patent system, forcing the other member states to press on without their backing.

A single patent system has been given the green light by the European Parliament although a ruling by the Court of Justice for the EU dealt a blow to the proposals by ruling that a single litigation process on disputes would be "incompatible" with current EU treaties.