The Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) is an international organization set up in 1995 by the Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC) to grant Eurasian patents. The official language of the EAPO is Russian and its current president is Saule Tlevlessova.[1] The headquarters of the EAPO is in Moscow, Russia.
Membership and signatories
editMember states
editAs of February 2021, the following 8 countries are contracting states to the EAPC and therefore members of the Eurasian Patent Organization:[2]
Former members
editMoldova is a former member state of the Eurasian Patent Organization. On 26 October 2011, Moldova denounced the Eurasian Patent Convention, meaning that, since 26 April 2012, it is no longer party to the Convention.[3] In December 2011, negotiations on a "validation and co-operation agreement" between the European Patent Office (EPO) and Moldova were authorized by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation.[4] The validation agreement with Moldova took effect on 1 November 2015.[5]
Although Moldova left the Eurasian Patent Organization, the Intellectual Property Agency of Moldova signed a Cooperation Agreement between Moldova and the Eurasian Patent Office in 2017.[6]
Signatories that did not become members
editAlthough Ukraine and Georgia were original signatories to the Eurasian Patent Convention, they have not ratified it.[7][8]
In 2019, negotiations between the European Patent Office (EPO) and Georgia were expected to result in a validation agreement, similar to the one existing between the EPO and Moldova.[9]
International cooperation
editThe EAPO cooperates with other patent organizations and has signed memorandums of understanding with the following:[10]
- African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
- European Patent Office
- European Union Intellectual Property Office
- Korean Intellectual Property Office
- World Intellectual Property Organization
PPH programme
editThe Patent Prosecution Highway Programme (PPH Programme) constitutes bilateral agreements between the Eurasian Patent Office and other patent offices designed to provide applicants with opportunities to get a patent faster and more efficiently, in one of the participating patent offices. The programme allows for an accelerated examination of patents compared to applications from non-participating patent offices. Currently, partner offices participating in the programme include the Japan Patent Office, European Patent Office, China National Intellectual Property Administration, Korean Intellectual Property Office, and the Finnish Patent and Registration Office.[11]
Exchange of patent documentation
editIn addition, according to its own web site, the EAPO maintains various agreements on the exchange of patent documentation with 38 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Eurasian Patent Organization". www.eapo.org. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ Article 2(2) EAPC: (English translation) "All Contracting States shall be members of the Organization."
- ^ Denunciation of the Eurasian Patent Convention by the Republic of Moldova, PCT Newsletter, No. 01/2012 (January 2012), p. 2.
- ^ Report on the 130th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (14 and 15 December 2011) Archived 18 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Official Journal EPO 1/2012, pp. 5-6.
- ^ "European patents to cover Moldova". European Patent Office. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "States Party to the Convention, Eurasian States (rus)". eapo.org (in Russian). Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "EURASIAN PATENT SYSTEMS". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Establishment of the Eurasian Patent Organization". Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Report on the 159th and 160th meetings of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (27 and 28 March 2019 and 26 and 27 June 2019 respectively) - Official Journal July 2019". European Patent Office (EPO). 31 July 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
Finally, in its 160th meeting, the Council unanimously authorised the President to conclude a validation agreement with Georgia.
- ^ "International & Regional Organizations". eapo.org. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "PPH Programme". eapo.org. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ "Exchange of patent documentation". eapo.org. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
External links
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