The Republic of Moldova officially becomes the 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation (EPO), marking a significant milestone in its integration into the European intellectual property system. This step follows years of rapprochement with the EPO and the gradual implementation of European standards in national patent legislation.
A key milestone in this process was the Agreement on the Validation of European Patents, which entered into force in 2015. It enabled the extension of European patents to Moldova and laid the groundwork for full accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC).
Following the completion of internal procedures, Moldova has acceded to the EPC, with membership expected to take effect in 2026. This will provide applicants with access to a unified procedure for obtaining a European patent through the European Patent Office, offering protection across multiple European jurisdictions via the Validation of European Patents.
EPO membership will simplify the process of obtaining patent protection, reduce administrative and financial costs, and increase the predictability of legal protection for inventions. It also supports the continued harmonisation of national legislation with European standards.
Overall, Moldova’s accession to the EPO is seen as an important step in fostering an innovative environment, attracting investment, and strengthening the country’s integration into the European economic and legal space.
IPR GROUP’s patent and trademark attorneys closely monitor key developments in intellectual property legislation across various jurisdictions, publishing updates on our webpages and promptly informing our valued clients of the most important changes.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for further advice on the practical application of new legislation and on how to effectively make use of enhanced intellectual property protection mechanisms.
