INTERNATIONAL PATENT
Regional Agreements
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international patent law treaty. A patent application filed under the PCT is called an PCT application or an international application.
Filing of a PCT application is made with a Receiving Office (RO) and it establishes a filing date in all contracting states. A patent search is performed by an International Searching Authority (ISA), accompanied by a written opinion regarding the patentability of the invention. It is optionally followed by a preliminary examination, performed by an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA). A PCT application does not itself result in the grant of a patent, since there is no such thing as an "international patent", and the grant of patent is a prerogative of each national authority. PCT application, which establishes a filing date in all contracting states, must be followed up with the step of entering into national phase to proceed towards grant of patent. The PCT procedure essentially leads to a standard national patent application, which may be granted or rejected according to applicable law, in each jurisdiction in which a patent is desired.
The contracting states which are parties to the PCT, constitute the International Patent Cooperation Union. Now there are 153 member countries.
Paris Convention Countries: Afghanistan; Argentina; Andorra; Bahamas, Bangladesh; Bhutan; Bolivia; Burundi; Congo, Democratic republic; Guyana; Haiti; Iraq; Jamaica; Lebanon; Macau, China; Mauritius; Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Suriname, Tonga, Uruguay, Holy see(Vatican city); Venezuela and Yemen
Countries which are not members of either PCT or Paris Convention are Taiwan, Myanmar, Maldives, Fiji, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia etc.
Please find below list of Paris Convention and PCT countries withthe date on which the treaty came into effect for a given country
| Country | Paris | PCT | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Afghanistan | 2017-05-14 | |
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Albania | 1995-10-04 | 1995-10-04 |
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Algeria | 1966-03-01 | 2000-03-08 |
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Andorra | 2004-06-02 | |
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Angola | 2007-12-27 | 2007-12-27 |
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Antigua and Barbuda | 2000-03-17 | 2000-03-17 |
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Argentina | 1967-02-10 | |
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Armenia | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Australia | 1925-10-10 | 1980-03-31 |
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Austria | 1909-01-01 | 1979-04-23 |
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Azerbaijan | 1995-12-25 | 1995-12-25 |
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Bahamas | 1973-07-10 | |
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Bahrain | 1973-07-10 | 2007-03-18 |
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Bangladesh | 1991-03-03 | |
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Barbados | 1985-03-12 | 1985-03-12 |
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Belarus | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Belgium | 1884-07-07 | 1981-12-14 |
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Belize | 2000-06-17 | 2000-06-17 |
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Benin | 1967-01-10 | 1987-02-26 |
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Bhutan | 2000-08-04 | |
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Bolivia | 1993-11-04 | |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1992-03-01 | 1996-09-07 |
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Botswana | 1998-04-15 | 2003-10-30 |
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Brunei | 2012-02-17 | 2012-07-24 |
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Bulgaria | 1921-06-13 | 1984-05-21 |
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Burkina Faso | 1963-11-19 | 1989-03-21 |
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Burundi | 1977-09-03 | |
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Cambodia | 1998-09-22 | 2016-12-08 |
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Cameroon | 1964-05-10 | 1978-01-24 |
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Canada | 1925-06-12 | 1990-01-02 |
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Cape Verde | ||
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Central African Republic | 1963-11-19 | 1978-01-24 |
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Chad | 1963-11-19 | 1978-01-24 |
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Chile | 1991-06-14 | 2009-06-02 |
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China | 1985-03-19 | 1994-01-01 |
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Colombia | 1996-09-03 | 2001-02-28 |
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Comoros | 2005-04-03 | 2005-04-03 |
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Congo, Democratic Republic | 1975-01-31 | |
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Congo, Republic | 1963-09-02 | 1978-01-24 |
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Costa Rica | 1995-10-31 | 1999-08-03 |
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Côte d'Ivoire | 1963-10-23 | 1991-04-30 |
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Croatia | 1991-10-08 | 1998-07-01 |
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Cuba | 1904-11-17 | 1996-07-16 |
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Cyprus | 1966-01-17 | 1998-04-01 |
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Czech Republic | 1993-01-01 | 1993-01-01 |
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Denmark | 1894-10-01 | 1978-12-01 |
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Djibouti | 2002-05-13 | 2016-09-23 |
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Dominica | 1999-08-07 | 1999-08-07 |
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Dominican Republic | 1890-07-11 | 2007-05-28 |
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Ecuador | 1999-06-22 | 2001-05-07 |
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Egypt | 1951-07-01 | 2003-09-06 |
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El Salvador | 1994-02-19 | 2006-08-17 |
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Equatorial Guinea | 1997-06-26 | 2001-07-17 |
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Eritrea | ||
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Ethiopia | ||
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Estonia | 1994-08-24 | 1994-08-24 |
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European Union | ||
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Fiji | ||
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Finland | 1921-09-20 | 1980-10-01 |
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France | 1884-07-07 | 1978-02-25 |
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Gabon | 1964-02-29 | 1978-01-24 |
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Gambia | 1992-01-21 | 1997-12-09 |
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Georgia | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Germany | 1903-05-01 | 1978-01-24 |
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Ghana | 1976-09-28 | 1997-02-26 |
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Greece | 1924-09-28 | 1990-10-09 |
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Grenada | 1998-09-22 | 1998-09-22 |
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Guatemala | 1998-08-18 | 2006-10-14 |
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Guinea | 1982-02-05 | 1991-05-27 |
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Guinea-Bissau | 1988-06-28 | 1997-12-12 |
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Guyana | 1994-10-25 | |
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Haiti | 1958-07-01 | |
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Honduras | 1994-02-04 | 2006-06-20 |
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Hong Kong, China | 1997-07-01 | 1997-07-01 |
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Hungary | 1909-01-01 | 1980-06-27 |
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Iceland | 1962-05-05 | 1995-03-23 |
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India | 1998-12-07 | 1998-12-07 |
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Indonesia | 1950-12-24 | 1997-09-05 |
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Iran | 1959-12-16 | 2013-10-04 |
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Iraq | 1976-12-24 | |
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Ireland | 1925-12-04 | 1992-08-01 |
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Israel | 1950-03-24 | 1996-06-01 |
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Italy | 1884-07-07 | 1985-03-28 |
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Jamaica | 1999-12-24 | |
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Japan | 1899-07-15 | 1978-10-01 |
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Jordan | 1972-07-17 | 2017-06-09 |
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Kazakhstan | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Kenya | 1965-06-14 | 1994-06-08 |
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Kiribati | ||
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Kuwait | 2014-12-02 | 2016-09-09 |
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Kyrgyzstan | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Laos | 1998-10-08 | 2006-06-14 |
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Latvia | 1993-09-07 | 1993-09-07 |
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Lebanon | 1924-09-01 | |
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Lesotho | 1989-09-28 | 1995-10-21 |
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Liberia | 1994-08-27 | 1994-08-27 |
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Libya | 1976-09-28 | 2005-09-15 |
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Liechtenstein | 1933-07-14 | 1980-03-19 |
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Lithuania | 1994-05-22 | 1994-07-05 |
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Luxembourg | 1922-06-30 | 1978-04-30 |
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Macau, China | 1999-12-20 | |
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Macedonia | 1991-09-08 | 1995-08-10 |
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Madagascar | 1963-12-21 | 1978-01-24 |
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Malawi | 1964-07-06 | 1978-01-24 |
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Malaysia | 1989-01-01 | 2006-08-16 |
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Maldives | ||
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Mali | 1983-03-01 | 1984-10-19 |
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Malta | 1967-10-20 | 2007-03-01 |
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Mauritania | 1965-04-11 | 1983-04-13 |
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Mauritius | 1976-09-24 | |
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Mexico | 1903-09-07 | 1995-01-01 |
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Federated States of Micronesia | ||
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Moldova | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Monaco | 1956-04-29 | 1979-06-22 |
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Mongolia | 1985-04-21 | 1991-05-27 |
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Montenegro | 2006-06-03 | 2006-06-03 |
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Morocco | 1917-07-30 | 1999-10-08 |
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Mozambique | 1998-07-09 | 2000-05-18 |
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Myanmar | ||
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Namibia | 2004-01-01 | 2004-01-01 |
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Nauru | ||
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Nepal | 2001-06-22 | |
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Netherlands | 1884-07-07 | 1979-07-10 |
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New Zealand | 1931-07-29 | 1992-12-01 |
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Nicaragua | 1996-07-03 | 2003-03-06 |
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Niger | 1964-07-05 | 1993-03-21 |
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Nigeria | 1963-09-02 | 2005-05-08 |
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Korea, Democratic People's Republic | 1980-06-10 | 1980-07-08 |
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Norway | 1885-07-01 | 1980-01-01 |
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Oman | 1999-07-14 | 2001-10-26 |
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Pakistan | 2004-07-22 | |
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Palau | ||
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Panama | 1996-10-19 | 2012-09-07 |
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Papua New Guinea | 1999-06-15 | 2003-06-14 |
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Paraguay | 1994-05-28 | |
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Peru | 1995-04-11 | 2009-06-06 |
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Philippines | 1965-09-27 | 2001-08-17 |
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Poland | 1919-11-10 | 1990-12-25 |
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Portugal | 1884-07-07 | 1992-11-24 |
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Qatar | 2000-07-05 | 2011-08-03 |
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Romania | 1920-10-06 | 1979-07-23 |
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Russian Federation | 1965-07-01 | 1979-07-23 |
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Rwanda | 1984-03-01 | 2011-08-31 |
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Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1995-04-09 | 2005-10-27 |
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Saint Lucia | 1995-06-09 | 1996-10-30 |
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St. Vincent & Grenadines | 1995-08-29 | 2002-08-06 |
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Samoa | 2013-09-21 | 2020-01-02 |
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San Marino | 1960-03-04 | 2004-12-14 |
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São Tomé and Príncipe | 1998-05-12 | 2008-07-03 |
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Saudi Arabia | 2004-03-11 | 2013-08-03 |
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Senegal | 1963-12-21 | 1978-01-24 |
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Serbia | 1992-04-27 | 1997-01-02 |
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Seychelles | 2002-11-07 | 2002-11-07 |
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Sierra Leone | 1997-06-17 | 1997-06-17 |
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Singapore | 1995-02-23 | 1995-02-23 |
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Slovakia | 1993-01-01 | 1993-01-01 |
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Slovenia | 1991-06-25 | 1994-03-01 |
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Solomon Islands | ||
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Somalia | ||
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South Africa | 1947-12-01 | 1999-03-16 |
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Korea, Republic | 1980-05-04 | 1984-08-10 |
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South Sudan | ||
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Spain | 1884-07-07 | 1989-11-16 |
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Sri Lanka | 1952-12-29 | 1982-02-26 |
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Sudan | 1984-04-16 | 1984-04-16 |
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Suriname | 1975-11-25 | |
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Swaziland | 1991-05-12 | 1994-09-20 |
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Sweden | 1885-07-01 | 1978-05-17 |
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Switzerland | 1884-07-07 | 1978-01-24 |
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Syria | 1924-09-01 | 2003-06-26 |
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Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) | ||
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Tajikistan | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Tanzania | 1963-06-16 | 1999-09-14 |
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Thailand | 2008-05-02 | 2009-09-24 |
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Timor Leste | ||
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Togo | 1967-09-10 | 1978-01-24 |
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Tonga | 2001-06-14 | |
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Trinidad and Tobago | 1964-08-01 | 1994-03-10 |
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Tunisia | 1884-07-07 | 2001-12-10 |
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Turkey | 1925-10-10 | 1996-01-01 |
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Turkmenistan | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Tuvalu | ||
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Uganda | 1965-06-14 | 1995-02-09 |
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Ukraine | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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United Arab Emirates | 1996-09-19 | 1999-03-10 |
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United Kingdom | 1884-07-07 | 1978-01-24 |
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United States of America | 1887-05-30 | 1978-01-24 |
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Uruguay | 1967-03-18 | |
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Uzbekistan | 1991-12-25 | 1991-12-25 |
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Vanuatu | ||
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Holy See (Vatican City) | 1960-09-29 | |
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Venezuela | 1995-09-12 | |
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Vietnam | 1949-03-08 | 1993-03-10 |
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Yemen | 2007-02-15 | |
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Zambia | 1965-04-06 | 2001-11-15 |
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Zimbabwe | 1980-04-18 | 1997-06-11 |
WORLDWIDE PATENT SEARCH
A patent search or a patentability search is a search conducted in patent databases, other available literature to find out whether any invention similar to your invention already exists or is in use in some part of the world. In countries like India, an invention has to be absolutely novel and that it should not be already applied for or registered in any country so as to be granted patent registration.Since patenting is an expensive and time consuming procedure, it is prudent to conduct a search prior to applying for it. This will help an inventor or applicant to know their chances of getting a patent granted. It is normally a tedious process which takes around 10-12days. A person skilled in the art can analyse the patent claims to determine the similarity between one and the other invention and provide necessary counsel on the strength of your patent or on refining your patent so that it does not infringe on the existing prior art. Prior art details helps in adopting newer ideas, refine the invention so as to make it patentable, draft patent specification and claims.
We also provide worldwide Freedom To Operate (FTO) search. A merchant exporter, manufacturer-exporter, software exporters or service provider should make sure that his product should not infringe upon the patent of an inventor or company in a foreign country. He could get into trouble with law enforcement agencies in such countries and may end up paying huge damages.
INTERNATIONAL PATENT REGISTRATION – PCT, NATIONAL & PARIS CONVENTION
A Patent can be filed limiting to Indian jurisdiction or could be filed internationally through Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) or through Paris Convention.
Filing a PCT application has the effect of automatically designating all Contracting States bound by the PCT on the international filing date. The effect of the international application is the same in each designated State as if a national patent application had been filed with the national patent office of that State.
Paris Convention allows the applicant to simultaneously coordinate filing in all countries that are of potential interest at the very start of the process within a limited period of time.
As such, in respect of the same, we provide following related services:
- Patent drafting, filing and prosecution services in India.
- Filing and prosecuting PCT patent applications in all Patent Cooperation Treaty member countries.
- National phase PCT filing in India.
- Filing and prosecuting patent applications in Paris convention countries which are not members of PCT with or without priority claims.
Patent Cooperation Treaty covers around 153 countries and rest of the 27 countries are covered by Paris convention.