The European patent system exceeds the boundaries of Europe – access to patent protection in Morocco via a European patent application

The agreement on the validation of European patent applications and granted European patents in Morocco signed in December 2010 has been implemented by the Moroccan authorities. The President of the EPO and the Moroccan Minister of Industry announced that the agreement will enter into force on March 1, 2015. The Moroccan implementing legislation has not yet become known.

At present, extension agreements exist with Bosnia/Herzegovina and Montenegro. Such an agreement was not possible for Morocco as a non-European state. Otherwise, the first validation agreement works in the same way as the known extension agreements, making it possible for applicants and owners of European patents to have their patents recognized in Morocco against the payment of the applicable fee.

Another validation agreement with Moldova was signed in October 2013. The Republic of Moldova has not yet adopted the necessary implementing regulations.  

Read the Communique of the EPO of January 20, 2015 here.

Reported by Rudolf Teschemacher, Bardehle Pagenberg