Once in force, the agreement will streamline access to the Costa Rican market for European patent applicants. Under the validation agreement, European patents validated in Costa Rica will have the same effect and be subject to the same conditions as national patents.

Costa Rica is the seventh country to sign a validation agreement with the EPO, following Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, Cambodia, Georgia and Laos, who signed the agreement earlier this year.

However, the agreement has not entered into force in Laos and Costa Rica. The European Patent Office still needs to announce the dates for this.