EPO Patent Search - Search European Patents
Search European patents with comprehensive coverage across EU member states.
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EPO Patent Search — European Patent Database
The European Patent Office (EPO) grants European patents valid across 38+ member states through a single application. Search the full EPO database with AI-powered semantic search, IPC classification filtering, and complete specification access — free.
2.2M+
Patents indexed
38+
Member states covered
180K+
New applications per year
20yr
Max patent term from filing
About the EPO Patent Database
The European Patent Office (EPO), founded in 1973 under the European Patent Convention (EPC), grants patents that cover 38+ member states through a single examination procedure. It is one of the world's leading patent offices and a major source of global prior art.
PatentAssist.ai connects to the EPO's OPS (Open Patent Services) API, providing access to the full EPO publication database including applications, grants, and procedural status data.
- Full text: abstract, description, claims, drawings
- IPC classification and publication date filters
- Applicant and inventor name search
- Applications, granted patents, and PCT Euro-phase
European Patent Number Format
European patent numbers follow a consistent format that indicates the document type and status.
Published application
EP3 456 789 A1
A1 = first publication (with search report) · A2 = application published without search report
Granted patent
EP3 456 789 B1
B1 = granted patent specification · B2 = amended specification after opposition
Search report (published separately)
EP3 456 789 A3
A3 = European search report published separately (when application was first published as A2)
EPO Member State Coverage
A granted European patent can be validated in any of the 39 contracting states. Key markets include:
European Patent Prosecution Process
Understanding EPO prosecution stages helps interpret search results and application statuses.
Filing
Application filed at EPO (directly or via PCT). Priority date established. Languages: English, French, or German.
Search & Publication
European Search Report (ESR) issued within 6–18 months. Application published 18 months from priority date.
Examination
Examination request filed (or automatically initiated). Examiner issues objections; applicant responds. Average 3–5 years to grant.
Grant & Validation
Patent granted by EPO. Patentee must validate in each desired member state within 3 months (fees + translations).
PCT Route via EPO
File one PCT application (at the EPO or your national office) to defer the decision of which countries to protect in for up to 30 months. The EPO acts as an International Searching Authority (ISA), providing a written opinion on patentability that is respected globally. When you enter the European regional phase, the PCT application becomes an EP application and follows standard EPO prosecution.
Unitary Patent (UP)
Since June 2023, the Unitary Patent system allows inventors to obtain patent protection in up to 17 participating EU member states with a single validation request after EPO grant — eliminating the need for separate national validations in those countries. The Unitary Patent coexists with the classic European patent (which still requires country-by-country validation). This significantly reduces the cost of broad European protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
EPO patent search, European patent law, PCT, and validation across member states.
What countries are covered by a European patent?
39 member states including Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, and more. After grant, the patent must be validated in each target country by paying national fees (and sometimes filing a translation) within 3 months. An unvalidated EP has no effect in a given country.
What is the difference between a European patent and
a national patent?
A European patent is granted by the EPO through a single examination and can be validated in 39 countries. A national patent (e.g., a DE patent from the German Patent Office) is filed directly with a national office and is automatically enforceable in that country. For protection in multiple European countries, the EP route is typically more efficient than filing separately in each.
Does Brexit affect European patent coverage in the
UK?
No. The EPO is not an EU institution — it is governed by the European Patent Convention (EPC), which the UK remains a party to. European patents can still be validated in the UK post-Brexit by paying the UK validation fee. The Unitary Patent system, however, does not cover the UK as it is restricted to EU member states.
What is the PCT route and how does it relate to EPO?
The PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) allows you to file one application and defer entering national/regional phases for 30 months. The EPO acts as an ISA (International Searching Authority) for PCT applications. When you enter the European regional phase, the PCT application becomes an EP application. This is the most common route for international applicants seeking European patent protection.
What is the Unitary Patent and how does it help?
Since June 2023, the Unitary Patent (UP) allows patent owners to obtain protection in up to 17 EU member states with one request after EPO grant — instead of filing and paying validation fees separately in each country. This drastically reduces the cost and administrative burden of European patent protection. It coexists with the classic EP; patent owners can choose which countries to cover with UP and which to validate individually.
How do I search EPO patents by IPC classification?
Use the IPC Classification filter. Enter a code like H01M 10/0525 (lithium-ion batteries) or A61K 31 (organic medicinal preparations) to find all European patents
in that subclass. Combining an IPC code with a keyword query
is the most effective method for comprehensive landscape analysis
and competitor monitoring.
Also search patents from other offices: