BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 5
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
An agreement on the validity of European patents was signed between the Georgian government and the European Patent Organization (EPO) in Munich, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
The agreement was signed by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Gennadi Arveladze and the President of the European Patent Office Antonio Campinos.
According to the agreement, a European patent will be valid in Georgia on the basis of a single European patent application, which will simplify the patenting process for inventions in Georgia.
“The signing of this agreement is an important step for Georgia, which will contribute to the further integration of the country's economy with the European market. The agreement will also facilitate negotiations on Georgia’s accession to the European Patent Organization. Membership in the European Patent Organization will further strengthen the protection of industrial property in Georgia and, thus, will contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia,” said Arveladze.
Georgia seeks to become a member of the European Patent Organization. Accordingly, the signing of the agreement will facilitate the negotiation process between the parties.
According to the signed agreement, the approved European patent applications and patents in Georgia will have the same legal force as the Georgian patent applications and patents, but the legal actions regarding the current European patent will be regulated in accordance with the national legislation.
The European Patent Organization is an intergovernmental organization that was set up on 7 October 1977 on the basis of the European Patent Convention (EPC) signed in Munich in 1973. It has two bodies, the European Patent Office and the Administrative Council.
The European Patent Office, the executive arm of the European Patent Organization, offers inventors a uniform application procedure which enables them to seek patent protection in up to 44 countries. The Office is supervised by the Administrative Council.
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