As we informed you in our IP Alert of August 2014, an agreement was signed between Morocco and the European Patent Office (EPO) on 3 July 2014 in Munich about the validation of European patents in Morocco.   Anyone filing a European patent application will be able to request a validation for Morocco subject to the payment of a fee of 240 EUR and the corresponding request. Validation for Morocco is deemed requested for any European or international application filed on or after 1 March 2015. Validation is not possible for patent applications having a filing date prior to that date.   The validation fee has to be paid to the EPO within six months of the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the European search report or within the period for performing the acts required for an international patent application to enter the European phase.   After expiry of the relevant time limit, the validation fee can still be validly paid within a two-month grace period, provided that within that period a surcharge of 50% is also paid. If the designation fee has not been paid and further processing is available, the validation fee can still be paid along with the further processing concerning the designation fee.   If the validation fee is not paid in due time, the request for validation is deemed withdrawn.   Validated European patent applications and patents will have the same legal effect as Moroccan national applications and patents, and will be subject only to Moroccan patent legislation. Morocco recognises European patents as national patents.   This is only a rough overview about the validation of European patents in Morocco. For more details or any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.   Contact: Mr. Jacob Klinkisch 