My name has changed. How do I inform the EPO?

Requests to register a change of name for the applicant or patent proprietor must be submitted to the EPO in writing, quoting the application or patent number(s) concerned. Where appropriate, you can state in the request that the change of name affects all the applications/patents belonging to the applicant/patent proprietor. In that case, you do not have to submit a list of the individual applications/patents concerned.

A change of name can be registered in the European Patent Register as long as proceedings are pending before the EPO, and until expiry of the opposition period (see Article 99(1) EPC).

There is no fee payable.

Formal documentary proof of the change of name, e.g. a certificate of marriage, an extract from the commercial register (showing the old and new names) or any other official document must, however, be submitted. It is sufficient to submit a copy of such proof; a certified copy is generally not required.

As far as legal persons (e.g. companies) are concerned, the change of name must not involve a change of legal entity. In other words, the legal entity must be the same before and after the change of name.

We recommend that you use EPO Form 5051 or request the change via MyEPO (see MyEPO feature guide, point 3.2). Please note that the option to submit bulk requests in respect of bibliographic data is not available in MyEPO.

The Legal Division has sole responsibility for registering changes of name (see Decision of the President of the EPO dated 21 November 2013 concerning the responsibilities of the Legal Division, OJ EPO 2013, 600).