According to the European Patent Office (EPO) the act governing the granting and administering of European patents is called the European Patent Convention (EPC) and the Munich Convention.
History
The EPC was signed into European law in Munich on Oct. 5, 1973, and has been enforced from Oct. 7, 1977. In 2010, all member states of the European Union have accepted the legality of the EPC and recognize European patents, according to Europa.
Office
The EPC established the European Patent Office, which is headquartered in Munich to grant patents over a geographical area consisting of more than 540 million people. The EPC established branches of the EPO at The Hague and in Berlin and Vienna.
Patents
When granting a patent for a unique invention, the EPO can stipulate the patent to be legal in certain states of the European Union or across the entire territory. Europa reports patents granted by the EPO become liable to each nation's patent law.
