08/10/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Patent Office (EPO) held 45 meetings with other national patent offices during the meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), which took place in Geneva between 24 September and 2 October, according to a press release published on Friday 5 October. The aim is to reinforce cooperation between the EPO and its opposite numbers. For instance, the Australian patent authority has joined the cooperative patent classification, a joint initiative of the EPO and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This brings the number of patent offices belonging to this classification to 28. Memorandums of understanding (MOU) have been signed with the Peruvian office, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Eurasian Patent Organisation. Four states have concluded a validation agreement with the EPO, increasing the coverage of the European patent to 44 member countries. (PH)