NL Patent Office

History of NL Patent Office

In 1893, the current NL Patent Office began to implement the Trademark Act in the Netherlands. Prior to that, NL Patent Office was known as the Patent Council, later on, it was known as the Netherlands Industrial Property Office and after that as the Netherlands Patent Office.

Since 1912, this governmental organisation has been granting Dutch patents in accordance with the terms and conditions formulated within the Patent Act. This may be the reason why you still know NL Patent Office as the Patent Council or the Netherlands Patent Office today.

Patent Act 1995
The introduction of the Patent Act 1995 caused the Patent Council to change its name to the Netherlands Industrial Property Office. Since this Patents Act came into force, only patents that had not been examined were granted and the system and the organisation underwent a radical reorganisation. The Patent Council was abolished in 2004. Since 24 March 2005, the Netherlands Industrial Property Office has been known as the Netherlands Patent Office. Sinds January 1, 2010 the name has changed into NL Patent Office.

The Patent Act 1995 was amended in June 2008. From then onwards, it was no longer necessary to choose between a six-year and a twenty-year patent. From June 2008 onwards, patents for the Netherlands shall apply for a maximum of twenty years and shall always be published alongside a novelty search.

Amended Patent Act 1995
The six-year patent was abolished on 5 June 2008 and various fees have undergone a radical change. The name and duties of NL Patent Office have been laid down in the amended Patent Act 1995. In an open global economy, NL Patent Office - as an agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs - is working to achieve an enterprising and innovative Netherlands.