Patents

Malta has joined the WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty, from a report by AG-IP News:

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced on Wednesday that Malta became the 134 contracting state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) when it deposited its instrument of accession at WIPO on December 1, 2006. The Treaty will enter into force for Malta on March 1, 2007.

According to a press release by the WIPO, the accession by Malta means that in any international application filed on or after March 1, 2007, Malta (country code: MT) will automatically be designated, and as it will be bound by Chapter II of the Treaty, will automatically be elected in any demand for international preliminary examination filed in respect of an international application filed on or after March 1, 2007. Also, as of that date, nationals and residents of Malta will themselves be able to file PCT applications. The PCT system offers a number of advantages for patent applicants, national patent offices and the general public...

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