Five-year review

Five-year overview

	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
European patent filings
Direct European applications	62 558	63 166	60 650	60 046	61 725
PCT international patent applications	182 437	195 334	205 268	214 321	217 142
Total European patent filings	244 995	258 500	265 918	274 367	278 867

European patent applications filed with the EPO

Direct European applications	62 558	63 166	60 650	60 046	61 725
PCT applications entering the regional phase	80 264	85 396	87 377	92 657	98 297
Total European patent applications filed with the EPO	142 822	148 562	148 027	152 703	160 022

Searches carried out

European searches		94 281	95 510	96 217	102 088	128 547
Other searches		101 125	102 054	107 176	110 920	109 530
	For national offices and third parties	26 143	23 996	25 526	26 663	24 391
	International	74 982	78 058	81 650	84 257	85 139
Total searches		195 406	197 564	203 393	213 008	238 077

Examinations and oppositions

International preliminary examinations	7 242	7 954	7 871	7 853	9 363
European examinations	105 112	104 459	101 147	96 062	113 586
European patents granted	62 112	65 657	66 712	64 613	68 421
Patents opposed	2 963	2 994	2 963	3 063	2 898
Decisions in opposition cases	3 250	3 270	3 167	3 157	3 713

Appeals

Received
	Technical Boards of Appeal	2 657	2 602	2 515	2 353	2 387
Settled
	Enlarged Board of Appeal
	- Petitions for review	21	15	17	17	10
	- Referrals	1	1	0	4	4
	Technical Boards of Appeal	1 875	2 029	2 137	2 300	2 287
	Legal Board of Appeal	15	19	25	22	27
	Disciplinary Board of Appeal	12	7	8	17	7

Staff

Total staff	6 790	6 766	6 814	6 892	6 815
Examiners	3 961	3 994	4 112	4 221	4 227

Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 27/01/2016. PCT filings for 2015 are therefore estimates.