Patent Law Treaty Finalised:The End of a (Very) Long Story

On 2 June 2000 the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) has been signed in Geneva. The PLT, once (in the 1980s) thought to become the chosen instrument for international harmonisation for material patent law (and was then, after GATT/TRIPs, nearly forgotten), has now become a very important treaty with respect to setting international minimum standards for procedural matters for the granting of patents. It prescribes the standards for the assignment of a filing date, the way how to claim, correct, restore and proof priority, regulations concerning representation, revocation, communication, reinstatement of rights and time limits.

The regulations of the PLT enter into force, three months after ten instruments of ratification or accession by states have been deposited with the WIPO's Director General. We will keep you informed about this procedure.