On 21 April 2009, the Government of the Republic of San Marino (SM) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC).
The EPC will accordingly enter into force for San Marino on 1 July 2009.
European patent applications filed on or after 1 July 2009 will include the designation of the new contracting state 1. It will not be possible to designate San Marino retroactively in applications filed before that date.
To allow the new contracting state to be designated, however, the EPO will accord European patent applications filed in June 2009 the filing date of 1 July 2009 if the applicant expressly requests that filing date when filing the application.
This message is incorporated in the OJ 2009 summary.
Many Italian candidates have registered as patent attorneys in San Marino to get on the EPO list as grandfathers.
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