Greek Patents are regulated by the Greek Patent Law No. 1733/1987, the full title of which is “Technology Transfer, inventions and technological innovations”. The law was published in the government’s official gazette FEK 171/A/22.09.1987 and has been amended since, by provisions of different laws.

Greek patent applications (GPAs) are filed with the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI). 

A Patent is a protection title with a duration of 20 years. It is granted to the patentee for any invention which is new, involves an inventive step and is susceptible of industrial application. It may relate to a product, a process or an industrial application.

The official fee for filing a Greek patent application is €50 for up to 10 claims – for each claim over the 10^th the additional official fee is €30. The official fee for obtaining a priority document is €50. The examination fee with no substantial examination is €300, whereas, with substantial examination the official fee is €467. From the 3^rd year onwards, annuity fees are paid yearly up to the 20^th.

The GPA can be filed in English and the filing date constitutes a priority date for 12 months to file a PCT or EPA or another national patent.

The Greek translation of the description, the claims and abstract can be filed within four months from the filing date. A power of attorney signed by the applicant company is also required, to be filed within the same 4-month period following the date of application. Finally, within this time limit, each inventor should sign an Assignment of Rights, which states the details of the inventors, as well as the relationship with the applicant, i.e. employee or other. The signatures on the document should be notarized and the document legalized with Apostille.

If one of the inventors is of Greek nationality, then under an old patent law, it is imperative to file first in Greece. According to the law No. 4325/1963, all patent applications by Greek nationals need to be first filed in Greece to receive a check to determine whether they are relevant to national security. Accordingly, the restrictions apply to all inventions, where the inventor or applicant is a Greek citizen, regardless of whether he or she is resident in Greece.