Montenegro Will Soon Be the 39th Contracting State of the European Patent Convention (EPC)

On 15 July 2022, Montenegro fulfilled the last step in accessing the European Patent Convention as its 39^th contracting state. The agreement will be effective from 1 October 2022 and set a new landmark in the European Patent Office (EPO) history.

Starting their dialogues in 2007, the EPO and Montenegro formalised the first agreement in 2009, positioning the country as an Extension State and observer at the EPO's Administrative Council. This initial approach allowed Montenegro’s representatives to better understand the internal functioning of the organisation and the overall benefits of being part of the convention.

In July 2018, Montenegro made the formal request before the office to enter the EPC as a contracting state, kicking off the bilateral dialogues to adapt the national legislation to the convention’s rules over the following year. The process was officially approved by the parliament of Montenegro on 29 December 2021.