EPO and Tunisian Patent Office in new partnership

The European Patent Office (EPO) has entered into a partnership with the Tunisian Patent Office, enabling European patents to be used in Tunisian territory.

The agreement was signed by EPO president Benoît Battistelli and Kamel Ben Naceur, Tunisia’s minister for industry, on Thursday, July 3.

Under the new partnership, European patent applicants and owners will be able to have their patents validated in Tunisia, even though it is not an EU member state.

Any validated applications and patents will be subject to Tunisian patent legislation.

In a statement, Battistelli said the agreement will simplify access to patent protection in Tunisia. He added that it will help to strengthen innovation as well as open up new industrial and commercial prospects for foreign investors.

The agreement has to be ratified before it can enter into force.