our munich office

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When the European Patent Office (EPO) opened in Munich in 1978 it was an immediate success. In the intervening years, the number of European patent applications filed has grown enormously and the territory available to the applicant through a single application to the EPO has also expanded, with the number of contracting states increasing as time goes on. Developments in eastern Europe in the last decade or so have also had important consequences, with certain states in the region now being contracting states whilst others are actively seeking to join the European Patent Convention and/or have "extension" arrangements with the European Patent Organisation, enabling applicants to obtain European patents that will have effect in those countries. Filing European patent applications is now by far the most common route for obtaining patent protection in Europe.

In the same year as the EPO opened, Abel & Imray opened an office in Munich. As well as providing an invaluable base for our clients and for our own Attorneys when they are attending hearings in the EPO, our presence in Munich also enables us to make personal contacts with the staff of the EPO and thus to become aware at a very early date of changes or significant trends in European practice. Our office is staffed by our own bilingual secretary resident in Munich and by European Patent Attorneys and translators from our London, Cardiff and Bath offices visiting Munich.

The Munich office is situated in Sendlinger Strasse, in the city centre and within easy reach of the EPO, U-Bahn (subway), buses and trams. The excellent transport systems in Munich mean that reaching the city centre from Munich airport is relatively quick and easy, making our office and the EPO readily accessible from our other offices and other locations in the UK.

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