Effective January 15, 2024, a landmark agreement between the European Patent Office (EPO) and Georgia opens a streamlined path for securing patent protection in this emerging market.
What does this mean for you?
- Simplified Access: Existing European patent applications and granted patents can now be validated in Georgia, eliminating the need for a separate national application.
- Cost-Effective Protection: Validation fees are lower than traditional national patent filing costs, reducing overall expenses.
- Enhanced Legal Certainty: Validated European patents receive the same legal status and protection as Georgian national patents.
- Boosted Innovation: This agreement is expected to encourage foreign investment and technological advancements in Georgia by simplifying patent access.
Key Points to Remember:
- Eligibility: Only European patent applications and patents filed on or after January 15, 2024, are eligible for validation in Georgia.
- Process: A request for extending a European patent to Georgia must be filed within six months of the European search report publication together with payment of a fixed fee of EUR200.
- Translations: To validate in Georgia, a translation of the patent specification into Georgian must be filed within three months of grant.
- Unaffected Systems: The agreement does not affect the existing patent systems in Georgia or the EPO's procedures for granting European patents.
Implications for Georgia:
This agreement is a significant step forward for Georgia, fostering a more robust intellectual property environment and attracting inventors and businesses. This is expected to contribute to economic growth and technological advancements in the country.
Seeking Guidance?
Navigating the intricacies of this new agreement and its potential benefits for your specific needs can be complex.
Contact Secerna today to schedule a consultation and discuss how we can help you secure and enforce your patent rights in Georgia via the European patent system.