On 3 September 2012 several amend- ments to Irish patent legislation came into effect, paving the way for Ireland's accession to the London Agreement.

Under the revised legislation, applicants are no longer required to file a translation into English of the specification of European patents granted in French or German on or after 3 September 2012 (mention published in the European Patent Bulletin). The fee for filing the translation has also been done away with.

As a consequence of this new legis- lation, the Irish Patents Office will no longer treat as void European patents which were granted in the six months prior to 3 September 2012 and for which a translation into English has not been filed.

For further information, see the Irish Patents Office website:

http://www.patentsoffice.ie

References: ar65;