The European Parliament has ratified a deal which will create a single European patent. Inventors will be able to apply to the European Patent office for a patent valid in 25 EU member states.
The single patent is expected to reduce patent costs for businesses and entrepreneurs from around €35,000 each to approximately €4,725.
Spain and Italy protested that EU patents will only be available in English, French and German and will not participate in the single EU Patent.
The deal will come into a force in 2014.
Source: EUObserver.