The London Agreement enters into force for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as 18th contracting state on 1 February 2012 (see OJ EPO 2011, 614).

However, the London Agreement will have no effect on the existing translation requirements in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, because the relevant provisions have already been transposed into domestic law and form the basis for national practice.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia does not require proprietors of European patents to supply a translation of the patent specification, irrespective of the language in which the Office granted the patent. However, a translation of the claims into Macedonian is required.

More information on the London Agreement is available on the EPO website (www.epo.org).

References: ar65;