MUNICH - User consultation is not just a key element of our ISO 9001-certified quality management system; it is also essential to ensure we are responsive to the needs of those who use the European patent system, a press release stated by the European Patent Office (EPO).

EPO gathers qualitative feedback through many formal and informal channels, such as meetings with user associations or via our website, but quantitative feedback from anonymous surveys gives the Office a representative view of the levels of satisfaction among the applicants and their representatives. 

This year, eight surveys will cover the following topics:  

• Search services 
• Examination services, final actions and publications 
• Opposition services 
• Formalities services 
• Customer services 
• Key account management 
• Filing services 
• EPO website experience 

EPO surveys are carried out by BERENT Deutschland GmbH. Applicants feedback will remain anonymous, and the Office extends its thanks in advance to those who will be contacted by BERENT for participating. EPO is working closely with BERENT to ensure that interviews are comprehensive and concise. 

The Office will publish the survey results, and the changes it plans to make based on applicants feedback, on EPO website in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Recent survey published by IAM and World Trademark Review 

The EPO continuously monitors user feedback across multiple channels and notes the recent publication of the Global IP Benchmarking Survey, conducted by IAM and World Trademark Review. Once again, respondents to this survey rated the EPO top for the quality of its patents and services among the five largest patent offices worldwide.