The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or Laos) have forged a groundbreaking validation agreement, formally signed on May 13, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the global intellectual property landscape. The signing of this validation agreement marks a further expansion of the European patent system’s influence in Southeast Asia. It represents the culmination of dedicated collaborative efforts between the two jurisdictions. This agreement was further solidified on February 21, 2025, with the publication of the Instruction for Validation of European Patents in Laos under Validation Agreement No. 0153/MOIC, supplemented by Additional Recommendation No. 0153/DIP, which effectively amended and enhanced the revised Patent Law of Laos to create the essential legal foundation for the validation system. This strategic partnership, operational on April 1, 2025, represents the sixth validation agreement established by the EPO, following successful collaborations with Morocco, Tunisia, Moldova, Cambodia, and Georgia.
Under this agreement, European patent applications can be validated in Laos as of April 1, 2025, expanding the potential coverage of European patents to an impressive network of 46 countries through a single, streamlined application process. This network encompasses 39 EPO Contracting States, one extension state, and six validation states, including Laos, effectively providing the same protection in each country. Additionally, this streamlined system ensures that applications entering Laos meet EPO examination standards, offering enhanced legal certainty for patent holders.
Validation for Laos is deemed requested for any European or International application filed on or after 1 April 2025. It is not available for applications filed before 1 April 2025 or for any European patents resulting from such applications. Applicants contemplating validating a European patent in Laos must remit a validation fee of 180 EUR within six months of the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the European search report or, for international applications, within the period for completing the requirements for entry into the European phase. The system incorporates flexibility for applicants through a two-month grace period for fee payment, though this requires an additional 50% surcharge. Should the validation fee remain unpaid after this extended period, the validation request for Laos will be deemed withdrawn. Following the successful grant of the European patent, applicants must complete a post-grant validation process, the details of which will be published shortly by the EPO.
To facilitate this new administrative pathway, the EPO will update its online filing tools — including Online Filing 2.0 and the EPO Online Filing platforms — to incorporate Laos validation options starting April 1, 2025, with corresponding paper forms available on the EPO website.
This historic expansion of the European patent validation system into Laos represents a transformative development in Southeast Asian intellectual property frameworks. It creates unprecedented opportunities for patent holders while fostering innovation-driven economic growth in the region. The agreement establishes foundational infrastructure for enhanced cooperation between European and Southeast Asian business entities, research institutions, and individual inventors, contributing to the ongoing harmonization of global intellectual property practices.
Be assured that De Clercq and partners will automatically advise their clients of the option to seek protection in Loas for eligible filings.
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