European jurisdictions covered by FTO Checker

In Europe, patent protection can be obtained at two levels: national, in a specific member state, or through the European Patent Office (EPO) covering multiple jurisdictions.

A national filing in a member state does not automatically become a European patent application. Likewise, an EPO filing does not automatically grant protection in all member states: once granted, it must be validated in each country where protection is desired, in line with local requirements.

The EPO offers a centralized examination process, often reducing initial costs when seeking protection in several countries. Conversely, a national patent application can sometimes be extended to the EPO if the priority period (usually 12 months) is respected. The choice between national and European routes depends on the protection strategy, budget, and target markets.

FTO Checker covers all European national jurisdictions (see full list below) as well as the EPO itself. To include them in your patent strategy review, simply select Europe (EPO and national) on the submission form.

With FTO Checker, you can quickly assess freedom to operate or patentability while accounting for both European and national requirements.

Full list of European jurisdictions we cover