IP Insights
How the EPO examines software and AI inventions, why Alice-proof US claims can still fail in Europe, and how to frame technical effect so computer-implemented claims survive EPO examination.
Read article →Nine practical questions for US companies filing an EU trade mark: the EUIPO procedure, fees, clearance searches, timeline, documents, US priority and Madrid Protocol options, opposition handling, post-registration costs and payment terms.
Read article →A practical guide for US rights holders using an EU customs Application for Action (AFA): eligible IP rights, detention deadlines, evidence, destruction, costs and the steps to take before counterfeit goods reach the market.
Read article →From 1 April 2027, all official EPO notifications will be delivered exclusively to the Mailbox in MyEPO — no parallel paper copy, and electronic documents are deemed delivered on the date they bear. The EPO's announcement confirms what we have long prepared for: our Mailbox is already activated for all recipients, so our clients' deadlines are covered.
Read article →Your European patent has been opposed — or a competitor's new grant threatens your market. The nine-month deadline, the procedure step by step, and the indicative costs of defending or filing an EPO opposition, explained for US patent owners.
Read article →A non-EPC resident inventor needs to enter the European regional phase of a PCT application with 15 claims and three independent claims. Here is a fixed-fee answer to the five questions every applicant in this position asks: representation cost, claim admissibility, micro-entity fees, the parallel German filing, and what is needed by when.
Read article →A US company filed an EU trade mark and received a Notice of Absence of Formal Requirements under Article 41 EUTMR. Here is exactly how the appointment of an EEA representative works: the deadline, the fixed fee, what is included, and what documents are needed.
Read article →What a freedom-to-operate study covers, why US companies need it before launching in Europe, the risks of skipping it, and cost ranges for European and national patent, trademark and design FTO.
Read article →A step-by-step EU trademark search and registration guide for US companies: EUIPO clearance, fees, timelines and what a European trademark attorney handles.
Read article →EPO renewal fees rise from EUR 610 in year 3 to EUR 2,015 in year 10. After grant: national annuities per country, or one Unitary Patent fee. Official 2026 tables and a free calculator inside.
Read article →Key differences between EPO and USPTO practice for US filers — added matter, problem-solution inventive step and CII eligibility.
Read article →How US companies pick NICE classes at the EUIPO — IP Translator, class headings and mapping USPTO IDs to EU specifications.
Read article →How to challenge a European patent through EPO opposition — deadlines, costs and strategy for US companies.
Read article →Should US companies opt their European patents out of the UPC? A practical guide to risk, cost and timing for European patent portfolios.
Read article →The right time to bring in a European Patent Attorney — from first filing and PCT entry through examination, opposition, UPC and portfolio strategy.
Read article →A practical guide for US companies filing a European patent — direct EPO filing, PCT regional phase, deadlines and what to prepare.
Read article →What to do after the EPO grants your patent: validation deadlines, translations, national fees and common mistakes US companies make.
Read article →Quick answer: enter the EPO by month 31 of priority, then follow 10 steps to grant. 31-month PCT entry, search report in ~6 months, 4-month response windows, Rule 71(3) grant and the 9-month opposition period — with the fees due at each stage.
Read article →The difference between a patent attorney and a patent lawyer — and why it matters when you are filing in Europe or working with European counsel.
Read article →A practical comparison of the traditional European patent and the Unitary Patent — coverage, differences and how to choose.
Read article →A practical guide for US companies choosing a European Patent Attorney — qualifications, technical fit, fee structure and red flags.
Read article →Compare 2026 European patent costs for US companies: EPO fee schedule, Unitary Patent coverage, and national validation route totals. Clear fee breakdown for each path.
Read article →A short answer for US brands heading to Europe — when an EUTM is worth it, and where to find the full step-by-step filing hub.
Read article →Short answer: no. A US patent has no effect in Europe. You have 12 months (Paris Convention) or 31 months (PCT) to file at the EPO, from roughly $5k to grant. Exact deadlines, costs and the step-by-step route inside.
Read article →A US registration does not cover the EU. For most brands, the right starting point is an EU trade mark (EUTM) covering all 27 member states.
Read article →The EPO handles patents across Europe. The EUIPO handles EU trade marks and designs. They are separate systems, but timing matters for product launches.
Read article →Month-by-month timeline for entering the European regional phase from a PCT application: the 31-month deadline, fees, translations and first EPO action.
Read article →How US companies should weigh the Unitary Patent and UPC against traditional national validations in Europe.
Read article →