§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances patents granted by the European Patent Office have the legal effect of United Kingdom patents. [56353]
§ Dr. HowellsThe European Patent Convention, to which the United Kingdom is a party, provides that the grant by the European Patent Office of a European Patent has the equivalent legal effect to a national patent in those States which have been designated by the applicant. The Convention allows each Member State to require that, before a European Patent has legal effect in its territory, a translation into an official language of that country must be provided. Along with all the other Member States, the UK requires such a translation.