The EPO and Costa Rica in talks to make Costa Rica a validation state

The EPO and Costa Rica are currently in talks in order to make Costa Rica the 6th validation state at the EPO.

In the words of the EPO President Campinos: "The Validation system aligns entirely with Costa Rica's strategy to attract investment and enhance international visibility by enabling companies from around the world to select this country and obtain Costa Rican national patents through the EPO patent grant procedure. We are committed to assisting Costa Rica in pursuing these objectives while ensuring that the country, as in all other cases of Validation, retains full authority over validated patents subject to national law provisions."

Under the national law of the extension and validation states, a European patent extended to or validated in those states has the effect of a national patent granted by the relevant state and is subject to the same conditions.

The EPO has concluded validation agreements with five countries so far: Cambodia, Georgia (not yet in force), the Republic of Moldova, Morocco and Tunisia.