Costa Rica becomes a Validation State at the European Patent Office

Costa Rica has signed a landmark validation agreement with the European Patent Office (EPO). This milestone makes Costa Rica the first country in Central America to allow European patents to be validated within its jurisdiction, strengthening international cooperation and intellectual property protection. 

The system for validating European patents in a non-member state is based on an international agreement between the EPO and the respective validation state. Applicants can obtain patent protection in the validation state using effectively the same procedure before the EPO as for obtaining national patents in the Organisation's 39 member states and one extension state. At their request, and on payment of the prescribed fee, European applications and patents can be validated in the validation state, where they will have the same effect as national applications and patents.

This agreement will enable European patent holders to streamline processes, expanding opportunities for innovation and economic growth in Costa Rica.