WIPR Annual 2020 Business Brief: Greece

Patents

Inventions are protected in Greece by national or validated European patents, with a 20-year duration and subject to payment of annual fees. Inventions concerning 3D objects which are novel and industrially applicable, and capable of providing a solution to a technical problem, may be protected as a utility model, which has a maximum duration of seven years and is renewed annually.

Where the applicant is a Greek national, Patent Cooperation Treaty and European patent applications must be filed through the Greek Patent Office.

The duration of protection of pharmaceutical inventions as well as of inventions concerning plant protection products protected in Greece by a national or a European patent, may be extended by the grant of a supplementary protection certificate (SPC).

Information on existing patents in Greece can be found in the official bulletin issued by the Greek Patent Office as well as on the national patent register. Both are available online.

Upon detection of an infringing act, the patent owner may seek a temporary restraining order, which is filed concurrently with a petition for injunctions, requesting the cessation of the infringing act and removal of the infringing products from the market. With a main infringement action, the patent owner may also request compensation and moral damages.

Establishing an efficient watching system for detecting infringing products is key. Infringement actions can be brought before the competent courts by the patent owner and an exclusive licensee. Co-owners can bring infringement actions independently.