INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
General
Synopsis of the territorial field of application of international patent treaties (situation on 1 March 1996)
I. UNIVERSAL TREATIES
1. Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, of 20 March 1883, revised at Brussels on 14 December 1900, at Washington on 2 June 1911, at The Hague on 6 November 1925, at London on 2 June 1934, at Lisbon on 31 October 1958 and at Stockholm on 14 July 1967*
Albania, Stockholm
Algeria, Stockholm
Argentina, Lisbon1
Stockholm2
Armenia, Stockholm
Australia, Stockholm
Austria, Stockholm
Azerbaijan, Stockholm
Bahamas, Lisbon1
Stockholm2
Bangladesh, Stockholm
Barbados, Stockholm
Belarus, Stockholm
Belgium, Stockholm
Benin, Stockholm
Bolivia, Stockholm
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stockholm
Brazil, Stockholm
Bulgaria, Stockholm
Burkina Faso, Stockholm
Burundi, Stockholm
Cameroon, Stockholm
Canada, London1
Stockholm2
Central African Republic, Stockholm
Chad, Stockholm
Chile, Stockholm
China, Stockholm
Congo, Stockholm
Costa Rica, Stockholm
Côte d'Ivoire, Stockholm
Croatia, Stockholm
Cuba, Stockholm
Cyprus, Stockholm
Czech Republic, Stockholm
Denmark, Stockholm
Dominican Republic, The Hague
Egypt, Stockholm
El Salvador, Stockholm
Estonia, Stockholm
Finland, Stockholm
France, Stockholm
Gabon, Stockholm
Gambia, Stockholm
Georgia, Stockholm
Germany, Stockholm
Ghana, Stockholm
Greece, Stockholm
Guinea, Stockholm
Guinea-Bissau, Stockholm
Guyana, Stockholm
Haiti, Stockholm
Honduras, Stockholm
Hungary, Stockholm
Iceland, Stockholm
Indonesia, London1
Stockholm2
Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lisbon
Iraq, Stockholm
Ireland, Stockholm
Israel, Stockholm
Italy, Stockholm
Japan, Stockholm
Jordan, Stockholm
Kazakhstan, Stockholm
Kenya, Stockholm
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Stockholm
Korea, Republic of, Stockholm
Kyrgyzstan, Stockholm
Latvia, Stockholm
Lebanon, London1
Stockholm2
Lesotho, Stockholm
Liberia, Stockholm
Libya, Stockholm
Liechtenstein, Stockholm
Lithuania, Stockholm
Luxembourg, Stockholm
Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of), Stockholm
Madagascar, Stockholm
Malawi, Stockholm
Malaysia, Stockholm
Mali, Stockholm
Malta, Lisbon1
Stockholm2
Mauritania, Stockholm
Mauritius, Stockholm
Mexico, Stockholm
Moldova, Republic of, Stockholm
Monaco, Stockholm
Mongolia, Stockholm
Morocco, Stockholm
Netherlands, Stockholm
New Zealand, London1
Stockholm2
Niger, Stockholm
Nigeria, Lisbon
Norway, Stockholm
Paraguay, Stockholm
Peru, Stockholm
Philippines, Lisbon1
Stockholm2
Poland, Stockholm
Portugal, Stockholm
Romania, Stockholm
Russian Federation, Stockholm
Rwanda, Stockholm
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Stockholm
Saint Lucia, Stockholm
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Stockholm
San Marino, Stockholm
Senegal, Stockholm
Singapore, Stockholm
Slovakia, Stockholm
Slovenia, Stockholm
South Africa, Stockholm
Spain, Stockholm
Sri Lanka, London1
Stockholm2
Sudan, Stockholm
Suriname, Stockholm
Swaziland, Stockholm
Sweden, Stockholm
Switzerland, Stockholm
Syria, London
Tajikistan, Stockholm
Tanzania, United Republic of, Lisbon1
Stockholm2
Togo, Stockholm
Trinidad and Tobago, Stockholm
Tunisia, Stockholm
Turkey, Stockholm
Turkmenistan, Stockholm
Uganda, Stockholm
Ukraine, Stockholm
United Kingdom, Stockholm
United States of America, Stockholm
Uruguay, Stockholm
Uzbekistan, Stockholm
Vatican, Stockholm
Venezuela, Stockholm
Viet Nam, Stockholm
Yugoslavia, Stockholm
Zaire, Stockholm
Zambia, Lisbon1
Stockholm2
Zimbabwe, Stockholm
(Total: 136 states)
___________
* Additional information relating in particular to the territorial field of application of the Paris Convention pursuant to Article 24 of the Convention is given in the January 1996 issue of Industrial Property and Copyright.
1 Articles 1 to 12.
2 Articles 13 to 30.
2.Patent Cooperation Treaty, done at Washington on 19 June 1970 (PCT)
Albania | (04.10.1995)* |
Armenia6 | (25.12.1991) |
Australia | (31.03.1980) |
Austria1 | (23.04.1979) |
Azerbaijan | (25.12.1995) |
Barbados | (12.03.1985) |
Belarus6 | (25.12.1991) |
Belgium1, 2 | (14.12.1981) |
Benin3 | (26.02.1987) |
Brazil | (09.04.1978) |
Bulgaria | (21.05.1984) |
Burkina Faso3 | (21.03.1989) |
Cameroon3 | (24.01.1978) |
Canada | (02.01.1990) |
Central African Republic3 | (24.01.1978) |
Chad3 | (24.01.1978) |
China | (01.01.1994) |
Congo3 | (24.01.1978) |
Côte d'Ivoire3 | (30.04.1991) |
Czech Republic | (01.01.1993) |
Denmark1 | (01.12.1978) |
Estonia | (24.08.1994) |
Finland1, 5 | (01.10.1980) |
France1, 2, 6, 7 | (25.02.1978) |
Gabon3 | (24.01.1978) |
Georgia6 | (25.12.1991) |
Germany1 | (24.01.1978) |
Greece1, 2, 4 | (09.10.1990) |
Guinea3 | (27.05.1991) |
Hungary6 | (27.06.1980) |
Iceland | (23.03.1995) |
Ireland1, 2 | (01.08.1992) |
Israel | (01.06.1996) |
Italy1, 2 | (28.03.1985) |
Japan | (01.10.1978) |
Kazakhstan6 | (25.12.1991) |
Kenya15 | (08.06.1994) |
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | (08.07.1980) |
Korea, Republic of | (10.08.1984) |
Kyrgyzstan6 | (25.12.1991) |
Latvia | (07.09.1993) |
Lesotho15 | (21.10.1995) |
Liberia | (27.08.1994) |
Liechtenstein1, 8 | (19.03.1980) |
Lithuania | (05.07.1994) |
Luxembourg1 | (30.04.1978) |
Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of) | (10.08.1995) |
Madagascar | (24.01.1978) |
Malawi15 | (24.01.1978) |
Mali3 | (19.10.1984) |
Mauritania3 | (13.04.1983) |
Mexico | (01.01.1995) |
Moldova, Republic of6 | (25.12.1991) |
Monaco1, 2 | (22.06.1979) |
Mongolia | (27.05.1991) |
Netherlands1,2, 9 | (10.07.1979) |
New Zealand | (01.12.1992) |
Niger3 | (21.03.1993) |
Norway5 | (01.01.1980) |
Poland5, 13 | (25.12.1990) |
Portugal1 | (24.11.1992) |
Romania6 | (23.07.1979) |
Russian Federation6 | (29.03.1978)14 |
Senegal3 | (24.01.1978) |
Singapore | (23.02.1995) |
Slovakia | (01.01.1993) |
Slovenia | (01.03.1994) |
Spain1, 4 | (16.11.1989) |
Sri Lanka | (26.02.1982) |
Sudan15 | (16.04.1984) |
Swaziland2, 15 | (20.09.1994) |
Sweden1, 5 | (17.05.1978) |
Switzerland1, 8 | (24.01.1978) |
Tajikistan6 | (25.12.1991) |
Togo3 | (24.01.1978) |
Trinidad and Tobago | (10.03.1994) |
Turkey | (01.01.1996) |
Turkmenistan6 | (25.12.1991) |
Uganda15 | (09.02.1995) |
Ukraine6 | (25.12.1991) |
United Kingdom1, 10 | (24.01.1978) |
United States of America11, 12 | (24.01.1978) |
Uzbekistan6 | (25.12.1991) |
Viet Nam | (10.03.1993) |
(Total: 84 states)
____________
* The date on which ratification or accession took effect is indicated for each state.
1 Is also a contracting state of the EPC.
2 Any designation of this state in an international application is treated in the same way as an indication of the wish to obtain a regional patent designating such state (Art. 45(2) PCT).
3 Is also a member state of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI). Any designation of this state in an international application is treated in the same way as a designation of all the other member states of OAPI which are also parties to the PCT (Art. 45(2) PCT).
4 Is not bound by PCT Chapter II.
5 Has made the reservation provided for in Art. 64(2)(a)(ii) PCT.
6 Has made the reservation provided for in Art. 64(5) PCT.
7 Including all Overseas Departments and Territories.
8 Any designation of this state in an international application is treated in the same way as a joint designation of Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Art. 45(2) PCT in conjunction with Art. 3 of the Patent Treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein; see OJ EPO 1980, 407).
9 Ratification for the Kingdom in Europe, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
10 The Treaty extends to the territory of Hong Kong with effect from 15 April 1981 and to the Isle of Man with effect from 29 October 1983.
11 Has made the reservation provided for in Art. 64(3)(a) and 64(4)(a) PCT.
12 Extends to all areas for which the United States of America has international responsibility.
13 The declaration provided for in Art. 64(2)(a)(i) PCT was withdrawn with effect from 1 March 1994.
14 Date of ratification of the Soviet Union, continued by the Russian Federation as from 25 December 1991.
15 Is also a contracting state of the African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO).
3. Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, done at Budapest on 28 April 1977
Australia | (07.07.1987)* |
Austria | (26.04.1984) |
Belgium | (15.12.1983) |
Bulgaria | (19.08.1980) |
China | (01.07.1995) |
Cuba | (19.02.1994) |
Czech Republic | (01.01.1993) |
Denmark | (01.07.1985) |
Finland | (01.09.1985) |
France | (19.08.1980) |
Germany | (20.01.1981) |
Greece | (30.10.1993) |
Hungary | (19.08.1980) |
Iceland | (23.03.1995) |
Israel | (26.04.1996) |
Italy | (23.03.1986) |
Japan | (19.08.1980) |
Korea, Republic of | (28.03.1988) |
Latvia | (29.12.1994) |
Liechtenstein | (19.08.1981) |
Moldova, Republic of | (25.12.1991) |
Netherlands | (02.07.1987) |
Norway | (01.01.1986) |
Philippines | (21.10.1981) |
Poland | (22.09.1993) |
Russian Federation | (22.04.1981)1 |
Singapore | (23.02.1995) |
Slovakia | (01.01.1993) |
Spain | (19.03.1981) |
Sweden | (01.10.1983) |
Switzerland | (19.08.1981) |
Tajikistan | (25.12.1991) |
Trinidad and Tobago | (10.03.1994) |
United Kingdom | (29.12.1980) |
United States of America | (19.08.1980) |
Yugoslavia | (25.02.1994) |
(Total: 36 states)
3.1Declarations filed under Article 9(1)(a) of the Budapest Treaty by Intergovernmental Industrial Property Organisations2
European Patent Organisation | (26.11.1980)3 |
__________
* The date on which ratification or accession took effect is indicated for each state.
1 Date of ratification of the Soviet Union, continued by the Russian Federation as from 25 December 1991.
2 In accordance with the declaration the Organisation recognises, pursuant to Article 3(1)(a) of the Treaty, the fact and date of the deposit of a micro-organism made with an international depositary authority as well as the fact that what is furnished as a sample is a sample of the deposited micro-organism.
3 Date of effect; see OJ EPO 1980, 380.
4. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 23 May 1969
The EPC contracting states also parties to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties are thus now as follows:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Greece
Italy
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
(Total: 13 states)
II. EUROPEAN CONVENTIONS
1. Convention on the Grant of European Patents of 5 October 1973 (European Patent Convention)*
Austria1 | (01.05.1979)** |
Belgium1 | (07.10.1977) |
Denmark1, 6 | (01.01.1990) |
Finland1 | (01.03.1996) |
France1, 2 | (07.10.1977) |
Germany1 | (07.10.1977) |
Greece1 | (01.10.1986) |
Ireland1 | (01.08.1992) |
Italy1 | (01.12.1978) |
Liechtenstein1, 3 | (01.04.1980) |
Luxembourg1 | (07.10.1977) |
Monaco1 | (01.12.1991) |
Netherlands1, 4 | (07.10.1977) |
Portugal1 | (01.01.1992) |
Spain1 | (01.10.1986) |
Sweden1 | (01.05.1978) |
Switzerland1, 3 | (07.10.1977) |
United Kingdom1, 5 | (07.10.1977) |
(Total: 18 states)
1.1 Agreements on co-operation in the field of patents / Extension Agreements
Albania1 | (01.02.1996)*** |
Latvia1 | (01.05.1995) |
Lithuania1 | (05.07.1994) |
Slovenia1 | (01.03.1994) |
(Total: 4 states)
* Instruments of ratification to the Act revising Article 63 of the EPC deposited for:
Austria | (30.07.1993) |
Denmark | (12.01.1993) |
France | (19.08.1994) |
Germany | (25.06.1993) |
Greece | (27.06.1994) |
Italy | (06.07.1995) |
Liechtenstein | (27.07.1995) |
Netherlands | (29.10.1992) |
Portugal | (28.08.1995) |
Sweden | (07.12.1992) |
Switzerland | (04.07.1995) |
United Kingdom | (02.11.1992) |
** The date ratification took effect is indicated for each state.
*** Date of entry into force of the extension agreements.
1 Is also a contracting state of the PCT.
2 The EPC is also applicable to the French territorial entity of Mayotte and the overseas territories.
3 Any designation of this state is treated in the same way as a joint designation of Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Art. 142(1) EPC in conjunction with Art. 2 of the Patent Treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein, see OJ EPO 1980, 407).
4 The EPC is not applicable to the territory of the Netherlands Antilles/Aruba.
5 The EPC is also applicable to the Isle of Man. For further information on the registration of European patents (UK) in overseas states and territories, see OJ EPO 1992, 333.
6 The EPC does not apply to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
1.2 Micro-organism depositary institutions recognised for the purposes of Rules 28 and 28a EPC
(a) International depositary authorities under the Budapest Treaty, indicated in I.3.2 above.
(b) The following depositary institutions, recognised under an agreement with the EPO:
Depositary institution
Collection Nationale deMicro-organismes (CNCM) Institut Pasteur 28, rue du Dr Roux F-75724 Paris Cedex 15 | Institute forFermentation Osaka (IFO) 17-85, Juso-honmachi 2-chome Yodogawa-ku Osaka 532 Japan | Forschungsinstitut Borstel Institut für experimentelle Biologie und Medizin (FIB) D-23845 Borstel ABl. EPA/OJ EPO/JO OEB 1984, 323. |
1.3 Microbiological experts recognised by the President of the EPO in accordance with Rule 28, paragraph 5(b), EPC
The list of microbiological experts recognised by the President of the EPO in accordance with Rule 28(5)(b) EPC, with an indication of their fields of activity, was published in OJ EPO 1992, 470.
2. Agreement relating to Community patents of 15 December 1989
Signatory states*
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
United Kingdom
(Total: 12 states)
3. Convention on the Unification of Certain Points of Substantive Law on Patents for Invention, of 27 November 1963
Denmark | (30.12.1989)** |
France | (01.08.1980) |
Germany | (01.08.1980) |
Ireland | (01.08.1980) |
Italy | (18.05.1981) |
Liechtenstein | (01.08.1980) |
Luxembourg | (01.08.1980) |
Netherlands | (03.12.1987) |
Sweden | (01.08.1980) |
Switzerland | (01.08.1980) |
United Kingdom | (01.08.1980) |
(Total: 11 States)
____________
* In accordance with Article 10 of the Agreement, this Agreement will enter into force on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last of the twelve states to take this step.
** The date on which ratification took effect is indicated for each state.