Patent Filing Greece

Greece is a strategically important jurisdiction for patent protection in Southeast Europe, serving as a gateway between the European Union, the Balkans, and emerging Mediterranean markets. Patent protection in Greece through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) offers applicants an efficient route to secure enforceable intellectual property rights in a jurisdiction governed by EU-harmonized patent standards and a civil-law legal system.

Greece is a contracting state of the PCT and also a member of the European Patent Convention (EPC). Unlike some EPC member states, Greece allows direct national phase entry from a PCT application into the Greek Patent Office and provides Greece Patent Search, in addition to protection via the European regional phase. This flexibility enables applicants to choose between centralized European prosecution or a cost-efficient direct national filing depending on business strategy, market size, and enforcement goals.

The Greek national patent system is administered by the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI). Once a PCT application enters the Greek national phase, it is examined under Greek patent law and, upon grant, provides enforceable exclusive rights throughout Greece. Patents granted in Greece are fully enforceable before Greek courts and align with EU-level enforcement and remedies.

Who is Eligible for Greece Patent Filing

Any applicant who has filed a valid international application under the PCT Filing may enter the national phase in Greece. Eligible applicants include individual inventors, startups, small and medium enterprises, multinational corporations, universities, and research institutions.

There are no restrictions for applicants on the basis of nationality or residency. However, foreign applicants without a domicile or registered office in Greece must appoint a local professional representative registered before the Greek Patent Office. Proper ownership of the invention must be demonstrated, particularly where assignments or transfers of rights have occurred.

Critical Deadline for Greece Patent Filing (30 / 31-Month Rule)

For Greece, the deadline to enter the national phase from a PCT application is 30 months from the earliest priority date. This deadline applies to direct national phase entry before the Greek Patent Office.

Applicants choosing the European regional phase instead must comply with the 31-month deadline applicable under the EPC framework. The choice between the Greek national phase and the European regional phase should be carefully evaluated based on enforcement strategy, translation costs, and long-term portfolio planning.

Missing the applicable deadline results in the irrevocable loss of patent rights in Greece.

There are no restrictions for applicants on the basis of nationality or residency. However, foreign applicants without a domicile or registered office in Greece must appoint a local professional representative registered before the Greek Patent Office. Proper ownership of the invention must be demonstrated, particularly where assignments or transfers of rights have occurred.

Timeline Extension After Expiry of the Deadline

Greek patent law provides limited mechanisms for restoration of rights in cases where the Deadline for National Phase Filing was missed unintentionally. A request for reinstatement may be filed within a prescribed period, accompanied by official fees and a detailed explanation demonstrating that due care was taken.

Restoration is discretionary and subject to strict scrutiny by the Greek Patent Office. There is no automatic extension of the 30-month deadline, and reliance on post-deadline remedies carries significant legal risk. Applicants are strongly advised to plan national phase entry well before the statutory deadline.

Filing Language for Greece Patent Application

The official language for the national phase Patent Filing in Greece is Greek. If the international application was filed in another language, a full Greek translation of the specification and claims must be submitted at the time of national phase entry or within the prescribed period.

Accuracy and consistency in translation are critical, as the Greek text determines the scope of protection and enforceability of the patent in Greece. Translation errors may limit enforceability or expose the patent to validity challenges.

Required Documents to File a Patent in Greece

To enter the national phase in Greece, the following documents are generally required:

The complete PCT application, including description, claims, abstract, and Patent drawings, was translated into Greek if necessary. A formal request for national phase entry must be filed along with payment of official filing fees.

A power of attorney is mandatory to have, when you can file through a local representative. The power of attorney generally does not require notarization, legalization, or apostille and may be submitted as a simple signed document unless otherwise requested.

If the applicant differs from the original PCT applicant, an assignment or proof of entitlement must be submitted. Such documents typically do not require notarization unless there is a dispute or formal deficiency.

Greece Patent Search and Examination Procedure

Upon national phase entry, the Greek Patent Office conducts a formal examination to verify compliance with filing requirements. Greece does not conduct a full substantive examination for novelty and inventive step in the same manner as some other jurisdictions.

Instead, the patentability search is primarily based on the international search report and written opinion issued during the PCT phase or, where applicable, a recognized international or European search authority. This approach allows for a more streamlined and cost-effective prosecution process.

Examination Process and Office Actions

The examination process in Greece focuses on formal compliance, clarity, unity of invention, and eligibility for patent protection. If deficiencies are identified, the Greek Patent Office issues official communications requesting corrections or clarifications.

Applicants must respond within the prescribed deadlines to remedy any deficiencies. Failure to respond may result in refusal or abandonment of the application. Although substantive examination is limited, careful claim drafting and alignment with international search results are essential to ensure enforceability.

Deadline for Request for Examination

Greece does not require a separate formal request for substantive examination as part of the national phase process. Examination proceeds automatically based on statutory procedures and reliance on international search results.

This procedural structure reduces administrative burden and shortens the overall prosecution timeline compared to jurisdictions with full substantive examination requirements.

Publication Process and Legal Impact

National phase patent applications in Greece are published after completion of formal examination. Publication makes the application publicly available and establishes provisional protection, enabling the applicant to claim compensation for unauthorized use occurring after publication once the patent is granted.

Publication also provides legal notice to third parties and strengthens the applicant’s position in licensing negotiations and enforcement planning.

Grant Process and Enforceability

Once the application satisfies all formal requirements, the Greek Patent Office proceeds to grant the patent. Upon grant, the patent holder acquires exclusive rights to prevent third parties from making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing the patented invention in Greece.

Granted patents are fully enforceable before the Greek civil courts. Patent holders may seek injunctive relief, damages, seizure of infringing goods, and other remedies available under Greek and EU law. Proper compliance with translation and procedural requirements is critical to maintaining enforceability.

Validity Term

A patent granted in Greece is valid for 20 years from the international filing date, provided that annual maintenance fees are paid in a timely manner. The validity term aligns with international and EU patent standards.

Typical Time to Obtain a Patent in Greece

The typical timeline from PCT national phase entry to grant in Greece ranges from two to four years, depending on the quality of the application, completeness of documentation, and responsiveness to official communications.

The absence of a full substantive examination generally results in a faster grant compared to jurisdictions with rigorous examination procedures.

Annuities and Maintenance Procedure

Annual renewal fees must be paid to maintain patent rights in Greece. Annuities are payable annually starting from the third year, calculated from the international filing date.

Renewal fees increase progressively over the life of the patent. Late payment may be accepted within a statutory grace period, subject to a surcharge. Failure to pay annuities results in automatic lapse of the patent with no retroactive reinstatement beyond limited restoration provisions.

Official Government Fees for Greece Patent Filing

Greek National Phase Filing Fees (Indicative)

Annual Renewal Fee Ranges (Indicative)

Official fees are subject to change and may vary based on applicant status and filing circumstances.

Utility Model Protection in Greece

Greece provides utility model protection, known as a Utility Certificate, as an alternative form of protection for technical inventions with a shorter lifecycle. Utility models offer a reduced protection term compared to patents and are generally granted without substantive examination.

Utility model protection may be suitable for incremental innovations or products with rapid commercialization cycles. However, utility models are not available through the PCT route and must be filed directly at the national level.

Greece Patent Office & Office

Patent applications, grants, and maintenance in Greece are administered by the national patent authority responsible for industrial property rights:

Official Website: Greece Patent Office