The European Patent Organisation (EPO) and Montenegro have signed an agreement on the extension of European patents to Montenegro.

The Agreement will enter into force later this year.

Once the agreement enters into force, the number of countries for which one can seek patent protection for an invention through a single European patent application will rise to 39 countries. In addition to the protection in the member states of the European Patent Convention (EPC) by the European patent, it is possible to extend protection to the so called extension states on request.

Up to date, the 35 member countries include all 27 EU member states plus Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Furthermore, the European Paten Organisation (EPO) has extension agreements with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.

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