The booklet is essentially a guide to the law and practice of the EPC contracting states, extension and validation states applicable to European patent applications and patents. The synopses given in the following tables have been prepared in close co-operation with the authorities of the respective states responsible for the protection of industrial property.

The tables have been drawn up with great care, but their completeness and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. They are very concise, focusing on the essentials, and are therefore no substitute for consulting the national legal sources themselves and seeking professional advice where appropriate. National patent law and practice are not static; they are changing and developing all the time. Users of the booklet may therefore wish to consult the official publications of the contracting states to make sure that the legal provisions summarised in the tables - and especially the fee amounts given - are still up to date. The EPO will continue to provide regular updates in its Official Journal about legal developments in the contracting states. It also updates the online version of this booklet whenever it learns of any changes at national level.