INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
General
Synopsis of the territorial field of application of international patent treaties (situation on 1 March 2007)
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, at Stockholm on 14 July 1967, and amended in 19791
Albania, Stockholm
Algeria, Stockholm
Andorra, Stockholm
Antigua and Barbuda, Stockholm
Armenia, Stockholm
Australia, Stockholm
Austria, Stockholm
Azerbaijan, Stockholm
Bahrain, Stockholm
Bangladesh, Stockholm
Barbados, Stockholm
Belarus, Stockholm
Belgium, Stockholm
Belize, Stockholm
Benin, Stockholm
Bhutan, Stockholm
Bolivia, Stockholm
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stockholm
Botswana, Stockholm
Brazil, Stockholm
Bulgaria, Stockholm
Burkina Faso, Stockholm
Burundi, Stockholm
Cambodia, Stockholm
Cameroon, Stockholm
Canada, Stockholm
Central African Republic, Stockholm
Chad, Stockholm
Chile, Stockholm
China, Stockholm
Colombia, Stockholm
Comoros, Stockholm
Congo, Stockholm
Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Stockholm
Costa Rica, Stockholm
Côte d'Ivoire, Stockholm
Croatia, Stockholm
Cuba, Stockholm
Cyprus, Stockholm
Czech Republic, Stockholm
Denmark, Stockholm
Djibouti, Stockholm
Dominica, Stockholm
Dominican Republic, The Hague
Ecuador, Stockholm
Egypt, Stockholm
El Salvador, Stockholm
Equatorial Guinea, Stockholm
Estonia, Stockholm
Finland, Stockholm
France, Stockholm
Gabon, Stockholm
Gambia, Stockholm
Georgia, Stockholm
Germany, Stockholm
Ghana, Stockholm
Greece, Stockholm
Grenada, Stockholm
Guatemala, Stockholm
Guinea, Stockholm
Guinea-Bissau, Stockholm
Guyana, Stockholm
Haiti, Stockholm
Holy See, Stockholm
Honduras, Stockholm
Hungary, Stockholm
Iceland, Stockholm
India, Stockholm
Indonesia, Stockholm
Iran (Islamic Republic of), Stockholm
Iraq, Stockholm
Ireland, Stockholm
Israel, Stockholm
Italy, Stockholm
Jamaica, Stockholm
Japan, Stockholm
Jordan, Stockholm
Kazakhstan, Stockholm
Kenya, Stockholm
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Stockholm
Korea, Republic of, Stockholm
Kyrgyzstan, Stockholm
Lao People's Democratic Republic, Stockholm
Latvia, Stockholm
Lesotho, Stockholm
Liberia, Stockholm
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Stockholm
Liechtenstein, Stockholm
Lithuania, Stockholm
Luxembourg, Stockholm
Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of, Stockholm
Madagascar, Stockholm
Malawi, Stockholm
Malaysia, Stockholm
Mali, Stockholm
Mauritania, Stockholm
Mauritius, Stockholm
Mexico, Stockholm
Moldova, Republic of, Stockholm
Monaco, Stockholm
Mongolia, Stockholm
Montenegro, Stockholm
Morocco, Stockholm
Mozambique, Stockholm
Namibia, Stockholm
Nepal, Stockholm
Netherlands, Stockholm
New Zealand, London2
Stockholm3
Nicaragua, Stockholm
Niger, Stockholm
Nigeria, Lisbon
Norway, Stockholm
Oman, Stockholm
Pakistan, Stockholm
Panama, Stockholm
Papua New Guinea, Stockholm
Paraguay, Stockholm
Peru, Stockholm
Philippines, Lisbon2
Stockholm3
Poland, Stockholm
Portugal, Stockholm
Qatar, 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
Sao Tome and Principe, Stockholm
Saudi Arabia, Stockholm
Senegal, Stockholm
Serbia, Stockholm
Seychelles, Stockholm
Sierra Leone, Stockholm
Singapore, Stockholm
Slovakia, Stockholm
Slovenia, Stockholm
South Africa, Stockholm
Spain, Stockholm
Sudan, Stockholm
Suriname, Stockholm
Swaziland, Stockholm
Sweden, Stockholm
Switzerland, Stockholm
Syrian Arab Republic, Stockholm
Tajikistan, Stockholm
Tanzania, United Republic of, Lisbon2
Stockholm3
Togo, Stockholm
Tonga, Stockholm
Trinidad and Tobago, Stockholm
Tunisia, Stockholm
Turkey, Stockholm
Turkmenistan, Stockholm
Uganda, Stockholm
Ukraine, Stockholm
United Arab Emirates, Stockholm
United Kingdom, Stockholm
United States of America, Stockholm
Uruguay, Stockholm
Uzbekistan, Stockholm
Venezuela, Stockholm
Viet Nam, Stockholm
Yemen, Stockholm
Zimbabwe, Stockholm
(Total: 171 states)
2. Patent Cooperation Treaty, done at Washington on 19 June 1970 (PCT)
Albania | (04.10.1995)1 |
Algeria5 | (08.03.2000) |
Antigua and Barbuda | (17.03.2000) |
Armenia5 | (25.12.1991) |
Australia | (31.03.1980) |
Austria1 | (23.04.1979) |
Azerbaijan | (25.12.1995) |
Bahrain5 | (18.03.2007) |
Barbados | (12.03.1985) |
Belarus5 | (25.12.1991) |
Belgium1, 2 | (14.12.1981) |
Belize | (17.06.2000) |
Benin | (26.02.1987) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | (07.09.1996) |
Botswana | (30.10.2003) |
Brazil | (09.04.1978) |
Bulgaria1 | (21.05.1984) |
Burkina Faso | (21.03.1989) |
Cameroon | (24.01.1978) |
Canada | (02.01.1990) |
Central African Republic | (24.01.1978) |
Chad | (24.01.1978) |
China3 | (01.01.1994) |
Colombia | (28.02.2001) |
Comoros | (03.04.2005) |
Congo | (24.01.1978) |
Costa Rica | (03.08.1999) |
Côte d'Ivoire | (30.04.1991) |
Croatia | (01.07.1998) |
Cuba5 | (16.07.1996) |
Cyprus1, 2 | (01.04.1998) |
Czech Republic1 | (01.01.1993) |
Denmark1 | (01.12.1978) |
Dominica | (07.08.1999) |
Ecuador | (07.05.2001) |
Egypt | (06.09.2003) |
El Salvador | (17.08.2006) |
Equatorial Guinea | (17.07.2001) |
Estonia1 | (24.08.1994) |
Finland1, 4 | (01.10.1980) |
France1, 2, 5, 6 | (25.02.1978) |
Gabon | (24.01.1978) |
Gambia | (09.12.1997) |
Georgia5 | (25.12.1991) |
Germany1 | (24.01.1978) |
Ghana | (26.02.1997) |
Greece1, 2 | (09.10.1990) |
Grenada | (22.09.1998) |
Guatemala | (14.10.2006) |
Guinea | (27.05.1991) |
Guinea-Bissau | (12.12.1997) |
Honduras | (20.06.2006) |
Hungary1,5 | (27.06.1980) |
Iceland1 | (23.03.1995) |
India5 | (07.12.1998) |
Indonesia5 | (05.09.1997) |
Ireland1, 2 | (01.08.1992) |
Israel | (01.06.1996) |
Italy1, 2 | (28.03.1985) |
Japan | (01.10.1978) |
Kazakhstan5 | (25.12.1991) |
Kenya | (08.06.1994) |
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | (08.07.1980) |
Korea, Republic of | (10.08.1984) |
Kyrgyzstan5 | (25.12.1991) |
Lao, Democratic People's Republic of | (14.06.2006) |
Latvia1 | (07.09.1993) |
Lesotho | (21.10.1995) |
Liberia | (27.08.1994) |
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | (15.09.2005) |
Liechtenstein1, 7 | (19.03.1980) |
Lithuania1 | (05.07.1994) |
Luxembourg1 | (30.04.1978) |
Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of | (10.08.1995) |
Madagascar | (24.01.1978) |
Malawi | (24.01.1978) |
Malaysia | (16.08.2006) |
Mali | (19.10.1984) |
Malta1 | (01.03.2007) |
Mauritania | (13.04.1983) |
Mexico | (01.01.1995) |
Moldova, Republic of5 | (25.12.1991) |
Monaco1, 2 | (22.06.1979) |
Mongolia | (27.05.1991) |
Montenegro | (03.06.2006) |
Morocco | (08.10.1999) |
Mozambique5 | (18.05.2000) |
Namibia | (01.01.2004) |
Netherlands1, 2, 8 | (10.07.1979) |
New Zealand | (01.12.1992) |
Nicaragua | (06.03.2003) |
Niger | (21.03.1993) |
Nigeria | (08.05.2005) |
Norway4 | (01.01.1980) |
Oman5 | (26.10.2001) |
Papua New Guinea | (14.06.2003) |
Philippines | (17.08.2001) |
Poland1, 4 | (25.12.1990) |
Portugal1 | (24.11.1992) |
Romania1, 5 | (23.07.1979) |
Russian Federation5 | (29.03.1978)12 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | (27.10.2005) |
Saint Lucia5 | (30.08.1996) |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines5 | (06.08.2002) |
San Marino | (14.12.2004) |
Senegal | (24.01.1978) |
Serbia | (01.02.1997) |
Seychelles | (07.11.2002) |
Sierra Leone | (17.06.1997) |
Singapore | (23.02.1995) |
Slovakia1 | (01.01.1993) |
Slovenia1, 2 | (01.03.1994) |
South Africa5 | (16.03.1999) |
Spain1 | (16.11.1989) |
Sri Lanka | (26.02.1982) |
Sudan | (16.04.1984) |
Swaziland | (20.09.1994) |
Sweden1, 4 | (17.05.1978) |
Switzerland1, 7 | (24.01.1978) |
Syrian Arab Republic | (26.06.2003) |
Tajikistan5 | (25.12.1991) |
Tanzania, United Republic of | (14.09.1999) |
Togo | (24.01.1978) |
Trinidad and Tobago | (10.03.1994) |
Tunisia5 | (10.12.2001) |
Turkey1 | (01.01.1996) |
Turkmenistan5 | (25.12.1991) |
Uganda | (09.02.1995) |
Ukraine5 | (25.12.1991) |
United Arab Emirates | (10.03.1999) |
United Kingdom1, 9 | (24.01.1978) |
United States of America10, 11 | (24.01.1978) |
Uzbekistan5 | (25.12.1991) |
Viet Nam | (10.03.1993) |
Zambia | (15.11.2001) |
Zimbabwe | (11.06.1997) |
(Total: 136 states)
___________
1 Is also a contracting state to 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 The PCT applies also to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with effect from 1 July 1997; it is, however, not applicable to the Macau Special Administrative Region.
4 Has made the reservation provided for in Art. 64(2)(a)(ii) PCT.
5 Has made the reservation provided for in Art. 64(5) PCT.
6 Including all Overseas Departments and Territories.
7 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).
8 Ratification for the Kingdom in Europe, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba; see, however, footnote 4 to II.1. European Patent Convention.
9 The Treaty extends to the Isle of Man with effect from 29 October 1983.
10 Has made the reservation provided for in Art. 64(3)(a) and 64(4)(a) PCT.
11 Extends to all areas for which the United States of America has international responsibility.
12 Date of ratification of the Soviet Union, continued by the Russian Federation as from 25 December 1991.
3. Patent Law Treaty (PLT) of 1 June 2000
Bahrain | (15.12.2005) |
Croatia | (28.04.2005) |
Denmark | (28.04.2005) |
Estonia | (28.04.2005) |
Finland | (06.03.2006) |
Kyrgyzstan | (28.04.2005) |
Moldova, Republic of | (28.04.2005) |
Nigeria | (28.04.2005) |
Romania | (28.04.2005) |
Slovakia | (28.04.2005) |
Slovenia | (28.04.2005) |
Ukraine | (28.04.2005) |
United Kingdom | (22.03.2006) |
Uzbekistan | (19.07.2006) |
(Total: 14 states)
4. Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, done at Budapest on 28 April 1977
Albania | (19.09.2003) |
Armenia | (06.03.2005) |
Australia | (07.07.1987) |
Austria | (26.04.1984) |
Azerbaijan | (14.10.2003) |
Belarus | (19.10.2001) |
Belgium | (15.12.1983) |
Bulgaria | (19.08.1980) |
Canada | (21.09.1996) |
China | (01.07.1995) |
Croatia | (25.02.2000) |
Cuba | (19.02.1994) |
Czech Republic | (01.01.1993) |
Denmark | (01.07.1985) |
El Salvador | (17.08.2006) |
Estonia | (14.09.1996) |
Finland | (01.09.1985) |
France | (19.08.1980) |
Georgia | (30.09.2005) |
Germany | (20.01.1981) |
Greece | (30.10.1993) |
Guatemala | (14.10.2006) |
Honduras | (20.06.2006) |
Hungary | (19.08.1980) |
Iceland | (23.03.1995) |
India | (17.12.2001) |
Ireland | (15.12.1999) |
Israel | (26.04.1996) |
Italy | (23.03.1986) |
Japan | (19.08.1980) |
Kazakhstan | (24.04.2002) |
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | (21.02.2002) |
Korea, Republic of | (28.03.1988) |
Kyrgyzstan | (17.05.2003) |
Latvia | (29.12.1994) |
Liechtenstein | (19.08.1981) |
Lithuania | (09.05.1998) |
Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of | (30.08.2002) |
Mexico | (21.03.2001) |
Moldova, Republic of | (25.12.1991) |
Monaco | (23.01.1999) |
Montenegro | (03.06.2006) |
Netherlands | (02.07.1987) |
Nicaragua | (10.08.2006) |
Norway | (01.01.1986) |
Philippines | (21.10.1981) |
Poland | (22.09.1993) |
Portugal | (16.10.1997) |
Romania | (25.09.1999) |
Russian Federation | (22.04.1981)1 |
Serbia | (25.02.1994) |
Singapore | (23.02.1995) |
Slovakia | (01.01.1993) |
Slovenia | (12.03.1998) |
South Africa | (14.07.1997) |
Spain | (19.03.1981) |
Sweden | (01.10.1983) |
Switzerland | (19.08.1981) |
Tajikistan | (25.12.1991) |
Trinidad and Tobago | (10.03.1994) |
Tunisia | (23.04.2004) |
Turkey | (30.11.1998) |
Ukraine | (02.07.1997) |
United Kingdom | (29.12.1980) |
United States of America | (19.08.1980) |
Uzbekistan | (12.01.2002) |
(Total: 66 states)
___________
1 Date of ratification of the Soviet Union, continued by the Russian Federation as from 25 December 1991.
4.1 Declarations filed under Article 9(1)(a) of the Budapest Treaty by Intergovernmental Industrial Property Organizations2
European Patent Organisation | (26.11.1980)3 |
African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO) | (10.11.1998) |
Eurasian Patent Organisation (EAPO) | (05.04.2000) |
__________
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.
4.2
For technical reasons only the PDF version of this article is available.
5. 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
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
(Total: 26 states)
6. Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO) of 15 April 1994
Albania | (08.09.2000) |
Angola | (23.11.1996) |
Antigua and Barbuda | (01.01.1995) |
Argentina | (01.01.1995) |
Armenia | (05.02.2003) |
Australia | (01.01.1995) |
Austria | (01.01.1995) |
Bahrain | (01.01.1995) |
Bangladesh | (01.01.1995) |
Barbados | (01.01.1995) |
Belgium | (01.01.1995) |
Belize | (01.01.1995) |
Benin | (22.02.1996) |
Bolivia | (12.09.1995) |
Botswana | (31.05.1995) |
Brazil | (01.01.1995) |
Brunei Darussalam | (01.01.1995) |
Bulgaria | (01.12.1996) |
Burkina Faso | (03.06.1995) |
Burundi | (23.07.1995) |
Cambodia | (13.10.2004) |
Cameroon | (13.12.1995) |
Canada | (01.01.1995) |
Central African Republic | (31.05.1995) |
Chad | (19.10.1996) |
Chile | (01.01.1995) |
China | (11.12.2001) |
Colombia | (30.04.1995) |
Congo | (27.03.1997) |
Costa Rica | (01.01.1995) |
Côte d'Ivoire | (01.01.1995) |
Croatia | (30.11.2000) |
Cuba | (20.04.1995) |
Cyprus | (30.07.1995) |
Czech Republic | (01.01.1995) |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | (01.01.1997) |
Denmark | (01.01.1995) |
Djibouti | (31.05.1995) |
Dominica | (01.01.1995) |
Dominican Republic | (09.03.1995) |
Ecuador | (21.01.1996) |
Egypt | (30.06.1995) |
El Salvador | (07.05.1995) |
Estonia | (13.11.1999) |
European Community | (01.01.1995) |
Fiji | (14.01.1996) |
Finland | (01.01.1995) |
France | (01.01.1995) |
Gabon | (01.01.1995) |
Gambia | (23.10.1996) |
Georgia | (14.06.2000) |
Germany | (01.01.1995) |
Ghana | (01.01.1995) |
Greece | (01.01.1995) |
Grenada | (22.02.1996) |
Guatemala | (21.07.1995) |
Guinea | (25.10.1995) |
Guinea-Bissau | (31.05.1995) |
Guyana | (01.01.1995) |
Haiti | (30.01.1996) |
Honduras | (01.01.1995) |
Hong Kong | (01.01.1995) |
Hungary | (01.01.1995) |
Iceland | (01.01.1995) |
India | (01.01.1995) |
Indonesia | (01.01.1995) |
Ireland | (01.01.1995) |
Israel | (21.04.1995) |
Italy | (01.01.1995) |
Jamaica | (09.03.1995) |
Japan | (01.01.1995) |
Jordan | (11.04.2000) |
Kenya | (01.01.1995) |
Korea, Republic of | (01.01.1995) |
Kuwait | (01.01.1995) |
Kyrgyzstan | (20.12.1998) |
Latvia | (10 02.1999) |
Lesotho | (31.05.1995) |
Liechtenstein | (01.09.1995) |
Lithuania | (31.05.2001) |
Luxembourg | (01.01.1995) |
Macau | (01.01.1995) |
Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of | (04.04.2003) |
Madagascar | (17.11.1995) |
Malawi | (31.05.1995) |
Malaysia | (01.01.1995) |
Maldives | (31.05.1995) |
Mali | (31.05.1995) |
Malta | (01.01.1995) |
Mauritania | (31.05.1995) |
Mauritius | (01.01.1995) |
Mexico | (01.01.1995) |
Moldova, Republic of | (26.07.2001) |
Mongolia | (29.01.1997) |
Morocco | (01.01.1995) |
Mozambique | (26.08.1995) |
Myanmar | (01.01.1995) |
Namibia | (01.01.1995) |
Nepal | (23.04.2004) |
Netherlands | (01.01.1995) |
New Zealand | (01.01.1995) |
Nicaragua | (03.09.1995) |
Niger | (13.12.1996) |
Nigeria | (01.01.1995) |
Norway | (01.01.1995) |
Oman | (09.11.2000) |
Pakistan | (01.01.1995) |
Panama | (06.09.1997) |
Papua New Guinea | (09.06.1996) |
Paraguay | (01.01.1995) |
Peru | (01.01.1995) |
Philippines | (01.01.1995) |
Poland | (01.07.1995) |
Portugal | (01.01.1995) |
Qatar | (13.01.1996) |
Romania | (01.01.1995) |
Rwanda | (22.05.1996) |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | (21.02.1996) |
Saint Lucia | (01.01.1995) |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | (01.01.1995) |
Saudi Arabia | (11.12.2005) |
Senegal | (01.01.1995) |
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu | (01.01.2002) |
Sierra Leone | (23.07.1995) |
Singapore | (01.01.1995) |
Slovakia | (01.01.1995) |
Slovenia | (30.07.1995) |
Solomon Islands | (26.07.1996) |
South Africa | (01.01.1995) |
Spain | (01.01.1995) |
Sri Lanka | (01.01.1995) |
Suriname | (01.01.1995) |
Swaziland | (01.01.1995) |
Sweden | (01.01.1995) |
Switzerland | (01.01.1995) |
Tanzania | (01.01.1995) |
Thailand | (01.01.1995) |
Togo | (31.05.1995) |
Trinidad and Tobago | (01.03.1995) |
Tunisia | (29.03.1995) |
Turkey | (26.03.1995) |
Uganda | (01.01.1995) |
United Arab Emirates | (10.04.1996) |
United Kingdom | (01.01.1995) |
United States of America | (01.01.1995) |
Uruguay | (01.01.1995) |
Venezuela | (01.01.1995) |
Viet Nam | (11.01.2007) |
Zambia | (01.01.1995) |
Zimbabwe | (05.03.1995) |
(Total: 150 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) |
Bulgaria1 | (01.07.2002) |
Cyprus1 | (01.04.1998) |
Czech Republic1 | (01.07.2002) |
Denmark1, 6 | (01.01.1990) |
Estonia1 | (01.07.2002) |
Finland1 | (01.03.1996) |
France1, 2 | (07.10.1977) |
Germany1 | (07.10.1977) |
Greece1 | (01.10.1986) |
Hungary1 | (01.01.2003) |
Iceland1 | (01.11.2004) |
Ireland1 | (01.08.1992) |
Italy1 | (01.12.1978) |
Latvia1 | (01.07.2005) |
Liechtenstein1, 3 | (01.04.1980) |
Lithuania1 | (01.12.2004) |
Luxembourg1 | (07.10.1977) |
Malta1 | (01.03.2007) |
Monaco1 | (01.12.1991) |
Netherlands1, 4 | (07.10.1977) |
Poland1 | (01.03.2004) |
Portugal1 | (01.01.1992) |
Romania1 | (01.03.2003) |
Slovakia1 | (01.07.2002) |
Slovenia1 | (01.12.2002) |
Spain1 | (01.10.1986) |
Sweden1 | (01.05.1978) |
Switzerland1, 3 | (07.10.1977) |
Turkey1 | (01.11.2000) |
United Kingdom1, 5 | (07.10.1977) |
(Total: 32 states)
1.1 Act revising the Convention on the grant of European patents (European Patent Convention), adopted by the Diplomatic Conference of the EPC contracting states on 29 November 2000
The revised text of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000) shall enter into force two years after the fifteenth contracting state has deposited its instrument of ratification or accession, or on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession by the contracting state taking this step as the last of all contracting states, if this takes place earlier (see Article 8(1) of the Revision Act).
On 13 December 2005, Greece became the fifteenth state to deposit its instrument of ratification. The EPC 2000 will therefore enter into force on 13 December 2007 at the latest.
Austria | (06.06.2006) |
Bulgaria | (30.04.2002) |
Czech Republic | (30.04.2002) |
Denmark | (20.11.2006) |
Estonia | (30.04.2002) |
Finland | (23.12.2005) |
Greece | (13.12.2005) |
Hungary | (28.10.2002) |
Iceland | (31.08.2004) |
Latvia | (05.04.2005) |
Liechtenstein | (23.11.2006) |
Lithuania | (03.09.2004) |
Malta | (01.12.2006) |
Monaco | (12.11.2003) |
Netherlands | (04.10.2006) |
Poland | (30.12.2003) |
Romania | (12.12.2002) |
Slovakia | (17.04.2002) |
Slovenia | (18.09.2002) |
Spain | (12.08.2003) |
Switzerland | (12.06.2006) |
United Kingdom | (26.05.2005) |
(Total: 22 states)
1.2 Agreements on co-operation in the field of patents / Extension Agreements
Albania1 | (01.02.1996) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina1 | (01.12.2004) |
Croatia1 | (01.04.2004) |
Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of1 | (01.11.1997) |
Serbia1 | (01.11.2004) |
(Total: 5 states)
1.3 International exhibitions as referred to in Article 55 EPC
1. The following list enumerates, for purposes of the application of Article 55(1)(b) EPC, those international exhibitions falling within the terms of the Convention on international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and last revised on 30 November 1972 which have been registered so far by the International Exhibition Bureau.
Period | Place | Theme1 |
|---|---|---|
14.06. - 13.09.2008 |
ZARAGOZA2 (ES) |
Water and Sustainable Development |
01.05. - 31.10.2010 |
SHANGHAI3 (CN) |
Better City - Better Life |
__________
1 Only the French version of the exhibition themes is the official version.
2 Recognised exhibition
3 Registered exhibition
2. The disclosure of an invention at one of these exhibitions by the applicant or his legal predecessor is not prejudicial to a European patent application if it occurred no earlier than six months preceding the filing of the application and provided the applicant states, when filing the application, that the invention has been so displayed and submits, within four months of the filing of the application, the certificate of exhibition referred to in Rule 23 EPC.
1.4 London Agreement dated 17 October 2000 on the application of Article 65 EPC
Signatory states
Denmark
France
Germany
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
(Total: 10 states)
1.5 Biological material depositary institutions recognised for the purposes of Rules 28 and 28a EPC
(a) International depositary authorities under the Budapest Treaty, indicated in I.4.2 above.
(b) The following depositary institutions, recognised under an agreement with the EPO:
Depositary institution | |
|---|---|
Collection Nationale de Micro-organismes (CNCM) Institut Pasteur 28, rue du Dr Roux 75724 Paris Cedex 15 France |
Institute for Fermentation Osaka (IFO) 17-85, Juso-honmachi 2-chome Yodogawa-ku Osaka 532 - 8686 Japan |
1.6 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
Belgium | (24.12.1999) |
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) |
Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of | (25.05.1998) |
Netherlands | (03.12.1987) |
Sweden | (01.08.1980) |
Switzerland | (01.08.1980) |
United Kingdom | (01.08.1980) |
(Total: 13 States)
1 Additional information relating in particular to the territorial field of application of the Paris Convention pursuant to Article 24 of the Convention is to be found on WIPO's website (www.wipo.int).
2 Articles 1 to 12.
3 Articles 13 to 30.