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If you
are only interested in the European market, then we would recommend
filing a European Patent Application at the expiry of the twelve
month stage. The approximate cost of
the preparation and filing of a European Patent Application is based
on the time involved in amending the specification to include any
improvements / modifications made to the invention in the priority
year. Additionally, we are required to prepare a set of claims and
an abstract and to file a request for a search including the search
fee. The standard patent procedure starting with a high quality
search is then conducted by the European Patent Office and
examination can then be requested in the light of the search
results. The Request for Examination together with the payment of
the designation fees for the countries you wish to proceed in can be
delayed until 24 months from the filing date of the initial
application. Ultimately, when the European Patent grants you must
then validate the European Patent in each of the national
territories in which you wish to have patent protection which
generally involves filing a translation of the specification into
the national languages concerned. A quote for the cost of validating
the patent in various countries can be provided on request at the
time.
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