The European Patent Convention (EPC) is an international treaty that provides a unified legal framework for granting patents in Europe. Established in 1973, it allows inventors to obtain patent protection in multiple European countries through a single application process. The EPC is administered by the European Patent Office (EPO), which examines patent applications and grants patents based on the criteria of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. The EPC has 38 member states, including all European Union countries and several others. It aims to simplify the patent application process, reduce costs, and enhance cooperation among member states in the field of intellectual property.