WIPO-administered Treaties:
Contracting Party of the Paris Convention: YES
Contracting Party of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): YES. Due term for entry into national phase: 30 months.
Patent Law in force:
IP Law 12/1999
Types of protection available:
Patent of Invention; Utility Model.
First filing requirements with the local Patent Office for inventions made by nationals:
NO
Formal filing requirements:
- Power of Attorney duly notarized and legalized within 60 days from office action. Possible extension of term. Original copies.
- Assignment document from the inventors duly notarized and legalized within 60 days from office action. Possible extension of term. Original copies.
- Certified copy of priority application within 60 days from office action (not required for entry into national phase of PCT applications provided that PCT/IB304 form is available).
- Sequence listings must be filed in WIPO Standard ST.26 format.
Filing of the patent application in a foreign language:
NOT available.
Substantive examination must be requested by the applicant:
15 days from notification.
Search report must be requested by the applicant:
NO
Observations by third parties:
YES, within 90 working days from publication.
Opposition:
YES, within 90 working days from publication.
Average time from filing to grant:
6-7 years.
Term of protection for patents:
20 years from filing date.
Term of protection for utility models:
15 years from filing date.
Differences between utility model and patent:
UM Suitable for utensils, instruments, tools, apparatus, devices, or any parts or improvements thereof, but not to chemical products, methods or uses; lower threshold for inventive step.
Maintenance:
Yearly, also during prosecution of the application.
Compulsory licensing:
YES
Link to patent and trademark National Office:
