The London Agreement and the cost of patenting in Europe

Bruno van Pottelsberghe and Malwina Mejer analyse the potential consequences of the recently ratified London Agreement, which reduces the patent translation requirements in 15 out of 34 EPC Member States. The simulations suggest that the cumulated costs of patenting have been reduced by 20 to 30 percent thanks to the coming into force of the London Agreement, in May 2008. In nominal terms, the total saving for the business sector is about €220 million. As well as these substantial cost savings, tha authors expect an increase in the demand for patents of eight to 12 percent.