The European Patent Office accepts colour drawings for patents
It’s now possible to file colour drawings to support the patent text in order to improve visual clarity 20 January 2026
Starting from 1 October 2025, the European Patent Office allows the filing of colour drawings as part of patent applications.
The goal is to improve the visual clarity of technical illustrations, facilitating the representation of complex concepts, experimental data and performance charts.
A technical requirement has been set: drawings must have sufficient contrast and a resolution of 300 dpi.
This development fits within a broader international framework, which can be summarised as follows for the main national and international IP offices:
|
IP Office |
Colour drawing allowed? |
Key notes |
|
EPO (Europe) |
Yes, from 01/10/2025 (electronic filings only) |
300 dpi resolution required |
|
UIBM (Italy) |
Not explicitly prohibited |
Rules mention black drawings, but guidelines do not exclude colour |
|
USPTO (USA) |
Only when colour is the sole practical means to disclose the invention |
Requires authorisation, fee and justification |
|
KIPO (South Korea) |
Yes |
Colour drawings allowed |
|
JPO (Japan) |
No |
Only greyscale accepted |
|
CNIPA (China) |
Yes |
Colour are allowed when necessary for technical clarity; photos accepted in special cases (e.g., metallographic structures, electrophoresis patterns) |
