General Information

Patents

Trade Marks

Designs

Utility Models

Plant Varieties

Patents Gazetteer

The information in this table is not guaranteed.

This page was updated on Tuesday, 21 May 2013.

Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Afghanistan
AF
No patent laws
Albania
AL
A
Wednesday, 4 October 1995
Friday, 19 September 2003
EP
Algeria
DZ
A
Wednesday, 8 March 2000
 
 
Andorra
AD
L
✗
 
 
Angola
AO
A, g
Saturday, 27 December 2007
 
 
Anguilla
AI
A
✗
 
 
Antigua and Barbuda
AG
L, B
Friday, 17 March 2000
 
 
Argentina
AR
A, G
✗
 
 
ARIPO
AP
A
Friday, 1 July 1994
Tuesday, 10 November 1998
 
Armenia
AM
A, G
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Sunday, 6 March 2005
EA
Aruba
AW
A
✔
see NL
 
Australia
AU
A, G
Monday, 31 March 1980
Tuesday, 7 July 1987
 
Austria
AT
A
Monday, 23 April 1979
Thursday, 26 April 1984
EP
Azerbaijan
AZ
A
Monday, 25 December 1995
Tuesday, 14 October 2003
EA

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Bahamas
BS
A
Sunday, 18 March 2007
 
 
Bahrain
BH
F
Friday, 18 May 2007
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
GCC
Bangladesh
BD
R
✗
 
 
Barbados
BB
A, G
Tuesday, 12 March 1985
 
 
Belarus
BY
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Friday, 19 October 2001
EA
Belgium
BE
A
Monday, 14 December 1981
Thursday, 15 December 1983
EP(6)
Belize
BZ
A
Saturday, 17 June 2000
 
 
Benin
BJ
O
Sunday, 26 February 1987
 
OA(6)
Bhutan
BT
No patent laws
Bolivia
BO
A
✗
 
 
Bosnia and Herzegovina
BA
A
Saturday, 7 September 1996
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
 
Botswana
BW
A, G
Thursday, 30 October 2003
 
AP
Brazil
BR
A
Sunday, 9 April 1978
 
 
Brunei
BN
L, B
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
 
Bulgaria
BG
A
Monday, 21 May 1984
Tuesday, 19 August 1980
EP
Burkina Faso
BF
O
Tuesday, 21 March 1989
 
OA(6)
Burundi
BI
A
✗
 
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Cambodia
KH
No patent laws
Cameroon
CM
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Canada
CA
A, G
Tuesday, 2 January 1990
Saturday, 21 September 1996
 
Cape Verde
CV
No patent laws
Central African Republic
CF
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Chad
TD
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Chile
CL
A
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Friday, 5 August 2011
 
China
CN
R
Saturday, 1 January 1994
Saturday, 1 July 1995
 
Colombia
CO
A
Wednesday, 28 February 2001
 
 
Comoros
KM
F
Sunday, 3 April 2005
 
 
Congo
CG
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Congo, Democratic Republic
CD
A
✗
 
 
Costa Rica
CR
A, F
Tuesday, 3 August 1999
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
 
Côte d'Ivoire
CI
O
Tuesday, 30 April 1991
 
OA(6)
Croatia
HR
A
Wednesday, 1 July 1998
Friday, 25 February 2000
EP
Cuba
CU
A
Tuesday, 16 July 1996
Saturday, 19 February 1994
 
Cyprus
CY
A
Wednesday, 1 April 1998
 
EP(6)
Czech Republic
CZ
A
Friday, 1 January 1993
Friday, 1 January 1993
EP

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Denmark
DK
A
Friday, 1 December 1978
Monday, 1 July 1985
EP
Djibouti
DJ
No patent laws
Dominica
DM
A
Saturday, 7 August 1999
 
 
Dominican Republic
DO
A, F
Monday, 28 May 2007
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
EAPO
EA
A
Monday, 1 January 1996
Wednesday, 5 April 2000
 
Ecuador
EC
A, G
Monday, 7 May 2001
 
 
Egypt
EG
L
Saturday, 6 September 2003
Saturday, 6 September 2003
 
El Salvador
SV
A, F
Thursday, 17 August 2006
Thursday, 17 August 2006
 
EPO
EP
A
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
Wednesday, 26 November 1980
 
Equatorial Guinea
GQ
A
Tuesday, 17 July 2001
 
OA(6)
Eritrea
ER
No patent laws
Estonia
EE
A
Wednesday, 24 August 1994
Saturday, 14 September 1996
EP
Ethiopia
ET
No patent laws

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Fiji
FJ
L, B
✗
 
 
Finland
FI
A
Wednesday, 1 October 1980
Sunday, 1 September 1985
EP
France
FR
A
Saturday, 25 February 1978
Tuesday, 19 August 1980
EP(6)

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Gabon
GA
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Gambia
GM
B
Tuesday, 9 December 1997
 
AP
Gaza
WB
L
✗
 
 
GCC
GC
A
✗
 
 
Georgia
GE
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Friday, 30 September 2005
EA
Germany
DE
A
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
Tuesday, 20 January 1981
EP
Ghana
GH
B
Wednesday, 26 February 1997
 
 
Greece
GR
A
Tuesday, 9 October 1990
Saturday, 30 October 1993
EP(6)
Grenada
GD
L, B
Tuesday, 22 September 1998
 
 
Guatemala
GT
A, G
Saturday, 14 October 2006
Saturday, 14 October 2006
 
Guinea
GN
O
Monday, 27 May 1991
 
OA(6)
Guinea-Bissau
GW
O
Friday, 12 December 1997
 
OA(6)
Guyana
GY
L, B
✗
 
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Haiti
HT
A, G
✗
 
 
Honduras
HN
A, F
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
 
Hong Kong
HK
F
✗
 
 
Hungary
HU
A
Friday, 27 June 1980
Tuesday, 19 August 1980
EP

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Iceland
IS
L
Thursday, 23 March 1995
Thursday, 23 March 1995
EP
India
IN
A
Monday, 7 December 1998
Monday, 17 December 2001
 
Indonesia
ID
A, g
Friday, 5 September 1997
 
 
Iran
IR
A, F
✗
 
 
Iraq
IQ
A, F
✗
 
 
Ireland
IE
A
Saturday, 1 August 1992
Wednesday, 15 December 1999
EP(6)
Israel
IL
A
Saturday, 1 June 1996
Friday, 26 April 1996
 
Italy
IT
A
Thursday, 28 March 1985
Sunday, 23 March 1986
EP(6)

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Jamaica
JM
L
✗
 
 
Japan
JP
R, G
Sunday, 1 October 1978
Tuesday, 19 August 1980
 
Jordan
JO
L
✗
Friday, 14 November 2008
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Kazakstan
KZ
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Wednesday, 24 April 2002
EA
Kenya
KE
L
Wednesday, 8 June 1994
 
AP
Kiribati
KI
B
✗
 
 
Korea (north)
KP
R, G
Tuesday, 08 July 1980
Thursday, 21 February 2002
 
Korea (south)
KR
A
Friday, 10 August 1984
Monday, 28 March 1988
 
Kosovo
KS
No patent laws
Kuwait
KW
L
✗
 
GCC
Kyrgyzstan
KG
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Saturday, 17 May 2003
EA

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Laos
LA
A
Wednesday, 14 June 2006
 
 
Latvia
LV
A
Tuesday, 7 September 1993
Thursday, 29 December 1994
EP(6)
Lebanon
LB
A
✗
 
 
Lesotho
LS
A, G
Saturday, 21 October 1995
 
 
Liberia
LR
L
Saturday, 27 August 1994
 
 
Libya
LY
L
Thursday, 15 September 2005
 
 
Liechtenstein
LI
A
Wednesday, 19 March 1980
Wednesday, 19 August 1981
EP
Lithuania
LT
A
Tuesday, 5 July 1994
Saturday, 9 May 1998
EP
Luxembourg
LU
A
Sunday, 30 April 1978
Thursday, 29 July 2010
EP

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Macau
MO
F
✗
 
 
Macedonia
MK
A, G
Thursday, 10 August 1995
Thursday, 30 May 2002
EP
Madagascar
MG
A
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
 
Malawi
MW
R
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
AP
Malaysia
MY
R, G
Wednesday, 16 August 2006
 
 
Maldives
MV
No patent laws
Mali
ML
O
Friday, 19 October 1984
 
OA(6)
Malta
MT
A
Thursday, 1 March 2007
 
EP(6)
Marshall Islands
MH
No patent laws
Mauritania
MR
O
Wednesday, 13 April 1983
 
OA(6)
Mauritius
MU
L, G
✗
 
 
Mexico
MX
A, G
Sunday, 1 January 1995
Wednesday, 21 March 2001
 
Micronesia
FM
No patent laws
Moldova
MD
A, G
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
EA
Monaco
MC
A
Friday, 22 June 1979
Saturday, 23 January 1999
EP(6)
Mongolia
MN
A
Monday, 27 May 1991
 
 
Montenegro
ME
A
Saturday, 3 June 2006
Saturday, 3 June 2006
(7)
Morocco
MA
S
Friday, 8 October 1999
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
 
Morocco (Casablanca)
XM
A, S
✗
 
 
Morocco (Tangiers)
XT
A, S
✗
 
 
Mozambique
MZ
A
Thursday, 18 May 2000
 
AP
Myanmar
MM
No patent laws

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Namibia
NA
L
Thursday, 1 January 2004
 
 
Nauru
NR
F
✗
 
 
Nepal
NP
L, F
✗
 
 
Netherlands
NL
A
Tuesday, 10 July 1979
Thursday, 2 July 1987
EP(6)
New Zealand
NZ
L
Tuesday, 1 December 1992
 
 
Nicaragua
NI
L
Thursday, 6 March 2003
Thursday, 10 August 2006
 
Niger
NE
O
Sunday, 21 March 1993
 
OA(6)
Nigeria
NG
A
Sunday, 8 May 2005
 
 
Norway
NO
A
Tuesday, 1 January 1980
Wednesday, 1 January 1986
EP

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
OAPI
OA
A
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
Tusaday, 16 October 2007
 
Oman
OM
A
Friday, 26 October 2001
Monday, 16 October 2007
GCC

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Pakistan
PK
L
✗
 
 
Palau
PW
No patent laws
Panama
PA
A, G
Friday, 7 September 2012
Friday, 7 September 2012
 
Papua New Guinea
PG
A, G
Saturday, 14 June 2003
 
 
Paraguay
PY
L, F
✗
 
 
Peru
PE
A, G
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
 
Philippines
PH
R, G
Friday, 17 August 2001
Wednesday, 21 October 1981
 
Poland
PL
A
Tuesday, 25 December 1990
Wednesday, 22 September 1993
EP
Portugal
PT
A
Tuesday, 24 November 1992
Thursday, 16 October 1997
EP

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Qatar
QA
A
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
 
GCC

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Romania
RO
A, G, F
Monday, 23 July 1979
Saturday, 25 September 1999
EP
Russia
RU
A, G
Wednesday, 29 March 1978
Wednesday, 22 April 1981
EA
Rwanda
RW
R
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
 
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
KN
B
Thursday, 27 October 2005
 
 
Saint Lucia
LC
L, B
Friday, 30 August 1996
 
 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
VC
L, B
Tuesday, 6 August 2002
 
 
Samoa
WS
L, F
✗
 
 
San Marino
SM
I
Tuesday, 14 December 2004
 
EP
São Tomé et Príncipe
ST
A, G
Sunday, 3 July 2008
 
 
Saudi Arabia
SA
A, G
Saturday, 3 August 2013
 
GCC
Senegal
SN
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Serbia
RS
A
Saturday, 1 February 1997
Thursday, 25 August 1994
EP
Seychelles
SC
L, B
Thursday, 7 November 2002
 
 
Sierra Leone
SL
B
Tuesday, 17 June 1997
 
AP
Singapore
SG
A
Thursday, 23 February 1995
Thursday, 23 February 1995
 
Slovakia
SK
A
Friday, 1 January 1993
Friday, 1 January 1993
EP
Slovenia
SI
A, G
Tuesday, 1 March 1994
Thursday, 12 March 1998
EP(6)
Solomon Islands
SB
B
✗
 
 
Somalia
SO
A
✗
 
 
South Africa
ZA
A
Tuesday, 16 March 1999
Monday, 14 July 1997
 
Spain
ES
A
Sunday, 16 November 1980
Thursday, 19 March 1981
EP
Sri Lanka
LK
R, G
Friday, 26 February 1982
 
 
Sudan
SD
A
Monday, 16 April 1984
 
AP
Suriname
SR
No patent laws
Swaziland
SZ
F
Tuesday, 20 September 1994
 
AP(6)
Sweden
SE
A
Wednesday, 17 May 1978
Saturday, 01 October 1983
EP
Switzerland
CH
A
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
Monday, 19 August 1991
EP
Syria
SY
A
Thursday, 26 June 2003
 
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Taiwan
TW
A
✗
 
 
Tajikistan
TJ
A
Friday, 25 January 1991
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
EA
Tanganyika
XY
B, S
See TZ
 
 
Tanzania
TZ
S
Tuesday, 14 September 1999
 
AP
Thailand
TH
A
Thursday, 24 December 2009
 
 
Timor Leste
TL
No patent laws
Togo
TG
O
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
 
OA(6)
Tonga
TO
R
✗
 
 
Trinidad and Tobago
TT
A
Thursday, 10 March 1994
Thursday, 10 March 1994
 
Tunisia
TN
A
Monday, 10 December 2001
Sunday, 23 May 2004
 
Turkey
TR
A, G
Monday, 1 January 1996
Monday, 30 November 1998
EP
Turkmenistan
TM
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
 
EA
Tuvalu
TV
B
✗
 
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Uganda
UG
B
Thursday, 9 February 1995
 
AP
Ukraine
UA
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Wednesday, 2 July 1997
 
United Arab Emirates
AE
A
Wednesday, 10 March 1999
 
GCC
United Kingdom
GB
A
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
Monday, 29 December 1980
EP
United States of America
US
R, G
Tuesday, 24 January 1978
Tuesday, 19 August 1980
 
Uruguay
UY
A
✗
 
 
Uzbekistan
UZ
A
Wednesday, 25 December 1991
Saturday, 12 January 2002
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
Vanuatu
VU
B, F
✗
 
 
Vatican City
VA
No patent laws
Venezuela
VE
A, G
✗
 
 
Vietnam
VN
A
Wednesday, 10 March 1993
 
 

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Geonym

Code Table

Patent Novelty (1), (2)

PCT (3)
Date of entry in to force

Budapest Treaty (4)
Date of entry in to force

Region (5)
West Bank
WB
L
✗
 
 
Western Sahara
EH
No patent laws
Yemen
YE
A
✗
 
 
Zambia
ZM
R
Thursday, 15 November 2001
 
 
Zanzibar
XZ
B, S
✗
 
 
Zimbabwe
ZW
R
Wednesday, 11 June 1997
 
AP

Sources

(1)

Legend for Novelty

A = absolute novelty

B = British patent registrable

F = foreign patent registrable

G = grace period - 12 months

g = grace period - 6 months

I = Italian intellectual property laws apply

L = local novelty

O = see OA

R = relative novelty

(2)

The primary sources for the entries in this column were the Manual Industrial Property (now called the Manual for the handling of applications for patents, designs and trade marks throughout the world, Kluwer Law International) and Katzarov’s Manual to accord with the Legend for Novelty as interpreted by the webmaster in late 1996. Many entries have since been updated — see the update pages for the individual geonyms for details.

(3)

Tuesday, 21 May 2013: WIPO website – http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/treaties/en/documents/pdf/pct.pdf (Friday, 3 May 2013);

(4)

Thursday, 28 February 2013: WIPO website – http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/treaties/en/documents/pdf/budapest.pdf (Tuesday, 15 January 2013)

(5)

Thursday, 28 February 2013: PCT Newsletter, February 2013. See also EPO website.

(6)

The national route to these countries through the PCT is closed. Coverage may be obtained only through the relevant regional entity.

(7)

Extension of a European patent application possible.

Copyright © 1997 - 2013 Bill Anderson