UP services Translations
A unitary patent is a ‘European patent with unitary effect’ which has been granted by the EPO under the rules and procedures of the EPC.
18
EU member states
1
Renewal fee to EPO
2023
System in force since
UPC
Single court
UP Translations
Translations of Unitary Patents required for the request for unitary effect – into English (for patents granted in French or German), or into any other official EU language (for patents granted in English).
When to apply
While EP is still in application phase – before the grant
Transition period
Up to 12 years – for information only, no legal effect
Compensation
Available for SMEs, individuals, universities, non-profits
Translation of UP into EPO languages
Before grant, a translation of any claims in the other two EPO languages must be filed. If proceedings are in English → French and German. If German → English and French. You must translate only the description; identical claims translations may be reused for a unitary patent request.
Compensation for translation costs
Available for SMEs, private individuals, non-profit organisations, universities, and public research organisations – all located within an EU member state. The applicant must have filed their EP application in an official EU language other than English, German, or French.
If you seek to grant a patent in French or German, it requires an English translation of the full specification. Those presented in English will need a complete translation into any language of the EU. However, you will need such a translation for a transitional period (of up to twelve years) while also being required for information only, without legal effect.
There can be cases where one uses English in the proceedings, and the patent proprietor chooses to file a specification translation into an official EU language that does not include French or German. Then it will often be possible to revert to an application one filed in connection with a national patent office, and adapt that translation to its current needs.
Clients should contact us for UP translation service when their EP is still in the application phase – because the validity period for the unitary effect is only the length of a single month.
There can be cases where one uses English in the proceedings, and the patent proprietor chooses to file a specification translation into an official EU language that does not include French or German. Then it will often be possible to revert to an application one filed in connection with a national patent office, and adapt that translation to its current needs.
Clients should contact us for UP translation service when their EP is still in the application phase – because the validity period for the unitary effect is only the length of a single month.
