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The European Patent Office (EPO) has published the 2026 Patent Filing Guidelines, which entered into force on 1 April. These rules bring together guidance that was previously spread across different parts of the European patent system. The EPO is trying to make its procedures clearer and more consistent for applicants who file and manage patent applications in Europe. Entrepreneurs, researchers and businesses dealing with innovation should understand that the Guidelines shape what patents actually protect in Europe and which innovations qualify for patent protection.

One practically important change is that European patent applications can now be filed in DOCX format. DOCX files are easier to edit than PDFs for non-technical users. This may make it easier for inventors and rightsholders (especially startups and small and medium-sized enterprises) to file patent applications themselves without involving professional patent firms. It may also lower barriers to entry for new patent firms, which no longer need sophisticated electronic filing systems. For established players, however, it may increase complexity, as changes will need to be integrated into existing electronic filing systems.

Due to the complexity of international patenting, anyone thinking about filing for patent protection with the EPO is strongly advised to consult a qualified patent professional.

IPrate is now available in public beta, offering the first fully data-driven ratings of intellectual property firms across the European Union and European Economic Area. The ratings cover trademarks, designs, and patents, and are intended to fill a long-standing gap: the absence of objective, transparent, and independent performance information in the European IP services market. Until now, the available ratings have relied on self-reported surveys, peer nominations, and paid editorial placements — none of which reflect actual filing track records.

IPrate firm ratings are built entirely from official filing and outcome data published by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). The methodology evaluates firms across six measurable dimensions — volume, success rate, procedural efficiency, opposition survival, renewal commitment, and domestic client trust — and applies Bayesian credibility adjustment to ensure that scores reflect genuine evidence rather than statistical noise. During this public beta, all ratings are computed at the European (Euro) tier, comparing firms based on their activity before these two pan-European offices.

National-jurisdiction data — covering filings at individual country patent and trademark offices — will be integrated in the near future, adding a domestic tier alongside the existing European view. This will allow users to see how firms perform not only at the continental level but also within their home markets. Country-by-country rollout is already underway, and updates will be announced on this page as new jurisdictions come online.