The European Patent Office (EPO) recently announced that Iceland and Lithuania will become members of the European Patent Convention (EPC) with effect from November 1, 2004 and December 1, 2004, respectively. Patent applications filed under the EPC or under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) designating the EPO will include designations of these states if such applications are filed after their respective dates of joining the EPC. See the Official EPC announcement for Iceland and the Official EPC announcement for Lithuania.