Notice from the EPO concerning drawings in colour and greyscale

Starting October 1, 2025, color drawings will be accepted in patent applications.

Previously, line drawings with hatching often led to crowded or hard-to-read figures. With this change, applicants and law firms will be able to communicate technical details more clearly.
This will be particularly helpful in the fields of biotech, chemistry, life sciences, medical devices, and engineering.

In comparison, at the USPTO, drawings must be filed in black and white, and color is accepted only if essential to understanding the invention, subject to a petition and additional requirements.

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To find out more: Notice from the European Patent Office dated 5 September 2025 concerning drawings in colour and greyscale | epo.org