How to Use the EPO Open Patent Services MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do we share the EPO Open Patent Services MCP Server configuration in VS Code Copilot?

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your repository and add the server configuration. When team members open the workspace, Copilot automatically detects the patent search tools.

Q: Can VS Code Copilot automate patent tracking using the EPO Open Patent Services?

Yes. You can ask Copilot to write a script that uses getpatentlegalstatus via the MCP Server to monitor specific application numbers and alert you to changes.

Q: How does the EPO Open Patent Services integration handle complex search syntax in VS Code Copilot?

The searchepopatents tool supports standard EPO CQL queries. Copilot can help you format these queries correctly before executing them against the live database.

Share patent search and legal auditing tools across your entire engineering team inside VS Code Copilot.

See Vinkius in Action

Works with every AI agent you already use

…and any MCP-compatible client

MCP Servers - Free for Subscribers

Connect EPO Open Patent Services MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect EPO Open Patent Services to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

GDPR Free for Subscribers

Setup EPO Open Patent Services with VS Code Copilot

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Team-wide patent auditing via VS Code Copilot

The `search_epo_patents` tool allows your team to run structured patent queries directly from the Copilot chat panel. By committing the configuration to your repo, every developer gets instant access to the EPO database. This eliminates individual API setup bottlenecks. This MCP Server ensures that your entire team uses the same authoritative data source. Your agent runs the search, returns the official document IDs, and inserts them directly into your shared documentation.

Pull official bibliographic metadata

The `get_patent_bibliographic` tool retrieves the complete historical record for any patent publication directly into your active workspace. Your agent parses the inventors, titles, and classifications, allowing you to build internal IP tracking tools without leaving the editor. Because the tool returns raw, structured JSON, your agent can instantly generate database schemas or markdown reports. You get clean, unvarnished data directly from the European Patent Office.

Track legal status changes in real time

The `get_patent_legal_status` tool queries the live EPO registry to check if a patent is active or lapsed. Your agent uses this data to audit your company's patent portfolio against official records, flagging potential issues instantly. Your team can also run `check_api_status` to monitor the EPO service status during automated CI/CD runs. This keeps your legal data pipeline reliable and predictable.

Setup guide

Set up EPO Open Patent Services MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the EPO Open Patent Services MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the EPO Open Patent Services tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent EPO Open Patent Services transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "epo-open-patent-services-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by EPO Open Patent Services. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

Why Choose Vinkius

Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.

Connect EPO Open Patent Services now

Real-time monitoring

Live

visibility into every interaction

Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.

Built-in savings

60%

lower AI costs

Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.

Single dashboard

One

place for every integration

Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.

Common questions about EPO Open Patent Services MCP in VS Code Copilot

Create a `.vscode/mcp.json` file in your repository and add the server configuration. When team members open the workspace, Copilot automatically detects the patent search tools.

Yes. You can ask Copilot to write a script that uses `get_patent_legal_status` via the MCP Server to monitor specific application numbers and alert you to changes.

The `search_epo_patents` tool supports standard EPO CQL queries. Copilot can help you format these queries correctly before executing them against the live database.

It allows developers and legal engineers to collaborate on IP tools using the same MCP Server endpoints, ensuring data consistency across your entire codebase.

All requests to fetch legal status or bibliographic details are routed through secure, ephemeral V8 isolates. Your proprietary application numbers and search keywords are never stored or analyzed.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

OpenAI Agents SDK sdk-python

Google ADK sdk-python

Pydantic AI sdk-python

Vercel AI SDK sdk-typescript