Poland accedes to the European Patent Convention

On 30 December 2003, the Government of the Republic of Poland (PL) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and to the Act revising the EPC of 29 November 2000. The EPC will accordingly enter into force for Poland on March 1, 2004.

The European Patent Organisation will thus comprise the following 28 member states as from March 1, 2004:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

(Source: OJ EPO 2004, 1)