The Estonian Patent Offi ce has extended the scope of use of its portal for electronic fi ling of applications for legal protection of industrial property. From the end of November 2008, online applications may be filed for registration of patents, utility models, and applications for validation of European patents.

      This development marks the next step in the process of simplifying industrial property application procedures in Estonia. Trademark applications already moved online from April 2007 and by now approximately 25% of all trademark applications are fi led electronically.

      Similarly to trademark applications, patent, utility model and European patent validation applications have to be signed digitally. For this, an Estonian ID card is required, enabling verifi cation of the identity of an applicant or its representative.