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Virtual Reference Desk Abstract
European Patent Office
The European Patent Office (EPO), located in Munich, The Hague, Berlin, and Vienna, was established in 1977. The EPO's task is to grant European patents using a unitary and centralized procedure. By filing a single patent application in one of the three official languages (English, French or German), it is possible to obtain patent protection in all 18 member states of the European Patent Organization. The homepage offers a link to Where to Find Patent Information on the Internet, the 1996 Annual Report, Official Journal EPO, and courses and seminars. The website may be read in English, German or French.