The Amendment of the German Patent Law has passed the German Bundestag on June 27, 2013. It has also passed the German Bundesrat on July 5, 2013. The amendment of the German Patent Law comprises amendments of the German Patent Law, the German Utility Model Law, the German Trademark Law, the German Design Model Law, among others. Essential parts of the Amendment come into force on the first day of the sixth month which follows the month of its promulgation.  

The Amendment provides that electronic files concerning patents, utility models, trademarks and design models shall be allowed to inspect via the internet. The German Patent Law is amended as follows: The objection period is increased from three months to nine months. Oral proceedings of oppositions are public. Oral proceedings have to be held in examination procedures upon request of the applicant. The periods for filing a German translation of a patent application written in English or French are extended.