Five-year review

Five-year overview

	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
European patent filings
Direct European applications	63 166	60 650	60 046	61 770	64 723
PCT international patent applications	195 334	205 268	214 321	217 232	231 504
Total European patent filings	258 500	265 918	274 367	279 002	296 227

European patent applications filed with the EPO

Direct European applications	63 166	60 650	60 046	61 770	64 723
PCT applications entering the regional phase	85 396	87 377	92 657	98 234	94 630
Total European patent applications filed with the EPO	148 562	148 027	152 703	160 004	159 353

Searches carried out

European searches		95 510	96 217	102 088	128 547	133 544
Other searches		102 054	107 176	110 920	109 530	111 145
	For national offices and third parties	23 996	25 526	26 663	24 391	27 564
	International	78 058	81 650	84 257	85 139	83 581
Total searches		197 564	203 393	213 008	238 077	244 689

Examination and opposition

International preliminary examinations	7 954	7 871	7 853	9 363	9 180
European examinations	104 459	101 147	96 062	113 586	137 939
European patents granted	65 657	66 712	64 613	68 419	95 940
Patents opposed	2 994	2 963	3 063	2 898	2 938
Decisions in opposition cases	3 270	3 167	3 157	3 713	4 102

Appeals

Received
	Technical Boards of Appeal	2 602	2 515	2 353	2 387	2 748
Settled
	Enlarged Board of Appeal
	- Petitions for review	15	17	17	10	18
	- Referrals	1	0	4	4	0
	Technical Boards of Appeal	2 029	2 137	2 300	2 287	2 229
	Legal Board of Appeal	19	25	22	27	18
	Disciplinary Board of Appeal	7	8	17	7	25

Staff

Total staff	6 766	6 814	6 892	6 815	6 801
Examiners	3 994	4 112	4 221	4 227	4 310

Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 27/01/2017. PCT filings for 2016 are therefore estimates.