March 2025 European patent system now offers protection in up to 46 territories
On 1 April 2025, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic will become the 6th validation sate for European patents. From this date, it will be possible to obtain patent rights in Laos based on a European patent granted by the EPO.
Laos will join the five existing validation states (Morocco, Republic of Moldova, Tunisia, Cambodia, and Georgia) and the one extension state (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in which patent rights can be obtained based on a granted European patent. This means that, from April 2025, a European patent application can result in granted patents in up to 46 territories (39 EPC contracting states, 1 extension state and 6 validation states). This applies to any European patent application or International (PCT) patent application which enters the European regional phase, and which has a filing date of 1 April 2025 or later.
To benefit from this change, a validation fee for Laos must be paid within six months of publication of the European search report (for European patent applications) or (for EP-PCT applications) within 31 months of the earliest priority date or six months from the date of publication of the international search report, whichever is the latest. In other words, the deadline is the same as for payment of the examination and designation fees, and any other desired extension/validation fees.
After grant of the European patent, the applicant can choose to complete the validation requirements in Laos in accordance with their national law, resulting in essentially the same protection in Laos as conferred by the European patent.
If you have any questions about this development, or the EPO extension and validation system more generally, please contact us.
