Définition
The applicant for a European patent is entitled to and may claim the priority of an earlier first application where :
- the previous application was filed in or for a State or WTO member recognised as giving rise to a priority right ;
- the applicant for the European patent was also the applicant, or is the successor in title to the applicant (the applicant held a right transmitted by another person) ;
- the European patent application is made during a period of twelve months from the date of filing of the previous application ;
- the application is in respect of the same invention as that disclosed in the previous application.
The previous application may be a patent of invention. However, priority rights arising from registrations of industrial designs are not recognised.
Remarque
Source : Office européen des brevets (OEB : http://www.epo.org)