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Malta to join EPC and PCT
5th January, 2007
On 1 March 2007, Malta will become a full member of the European Patent Organisation.
The European Patent Organisation will then comprise the following 32 member states:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
European patent applications filed on or after 1 March 2007 will include a designation of Malta, but it will not be possible to designate Malta retroactively in applications filed before that date.
To allow the new contracting state to be designated, however, the EPO will accord European patent applications filed in February 2007 the filing date of 1 March 2007 if the applicant expressly requests that filing date when filing the application.
Malta will also join the PCT on 1 March 2007.
Chris McDonald
January 2007
"Whilst W&R are instructed directly through our external Australian attorneys, we find W&R understand our patent portfolio and our cases are not treated as simply foreign referrals. It is invaluable having direct access to W&R if we have any queries on our EP/UK portfolio and related strategies."
John Walker, Senior Manager, CSIRO - Intellectual Property Portfolio Management
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