Patent Filing in France

France is a Global Leader in Innovation. Here, you will find a brief overview on filing procedures, routes, and fees for Patent Filing in France.

Patent Filing Routes in France

In order to get a patent in France, there are 3 routes:

1.  Direct Filing with the National Intellectual Property Office of France (INPI)

• This route allows you to file a patent application with the National Intellectual Property Office (INPI).
• If granted, the patent shall be valid in France only.

2. International Filing via Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

• The PCT route allows you to file a single patent application simultaneously in a number of countries.
• PCT has 152 Contracting States and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
• The granting of a patent in France remains under the control of the INPI, i.e “national phase”.

3.   International Filing via Paris Convention

• Similar to the PCT, the Paris Convention allows simultaneous multi-country filing.
• Paris Convention has 177 Contracting States and is also administered by WIPO.
• The granting of a patent in France remains under the control of the INPI.
• The Paris convention offers a relatively faster route as compared to the PCT and it is more economical.

4. Filing in EU via the European Patent Convention (EPC)

• The EPC route allows you to file a patent application with the European Patent Office (EPO).
• EPC has 38 contracting states.
• The granting of a patent in France remains under the control of the INPI.

Filing Requirements (INPI): Overview

The complete set of documents must include the following information:

• Your identification
• The deposit fee
• The description of your invention
• At least one claim
• Drawings (if necessary)
• If the application is in any language other than French, then a certified translation of the application must be provided within 2 months of the date of filing.

In the event of an application being incomplete after the submission, the INPI invites you to complete the file within one month. Your filing date is only established when your file is complete. If it is not timely, your request is inadmissible.

Filing Options (INPI)

You can file your application only using the INPI’s online e-filing system. There is no provision for filing a patent application offline.

Patent Fees: Overview

Type of Fees	Amount
Filing Fee	€36
Research Report	€520
Issuance of Patent	€90
Additional Claim	€42

There are certain relaxations for certain entities. There is a 50% reduction on the main procedural fees for:

• Natural persons
• SMEs with less than 1,000 employees whose capital is not more than 25% owned by an entity that does not fulfill these first conditions
• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the education or research sector.

For more information, visit the INPI official website’s pricing page.