11/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - The London Agreement, which simplifies requirements on translation of European patents granted by the European Patents Office (EPO) in Munich, will come into effect on 1 May in nine countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). At the end of January, France deposited the instrument of ratification with the German authorities, the last precondition for its coming into effect. The London Agreement, which is optional for the 32 member countries of the EPO, removes the requirement for a full translation of the European patent into the official languages of the countries where it will be valid. Only the claims, which are at the very heart of the legal protection of the European patent, will continue to be translated into the three official languages of the EPO, French, German and English. The EPO estimates that, with the coming into force of the London Agreement, there will be a reduction of almost 40% in translation costs related to patents. (M.B.)