Applying for a Unitary Patent

Before a Unitary Patent can be registered by the EPO, the applicant must first obtain a European patent. A European patent application must therefore be filed and processed under the EPC. 

Once a European patent has been granted, the proprietor must file a "request for unitary effect" at the EPO to obtain a Unitary Patent. The request must be filed within one month of the date of publication of the mention of the grant in the European Patent Bulletin. 

To be eligible for registration as a Unitary Patent, the European patent must have been granted with the same set of claims in respect of all the 25 Member States participating in enhanced co‑operation.