European Patent Office Starts Accepting Electronic Signatures

Starting April 1, 2024, the European Patent Office (EPO) will accept electronic signatures on contracts and declarations for recording assignments or licenses. This is a big change from the past, where only wet ink signatures were accepted.

Electronic signatures using services like SignatureAPI will also be accepted. To be valid, these electronic signatures must meet a few simple criteria: they must be filed electronically, be legible, and be free of viruses or malicious software.

This change is part of the EPO’s efforts to simplify procedures and embrace digital transformation. The new rules aim to make the process more streamlined and efficient, reducing the need for physical signatures and paper documents.

Overall, the EPO’s acceptance of electronic signatures marks a significant step forward in modernizing patent registration, making it easier and faster for users to complete necessary documentation.

See Notice from the European Patent Office dated 9 February 2024 concerning revised Rule 22 EPC.