Workshop on Implementation of Georgia’s Amended Patent Law

On June 13-14, 2018, Workshop was organized by the World Trade Organization and National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia, aimed to draft the text of the Resolution approving the “Rule of Granting a Compulsory License for the Use of a Patented Invention and Utility Model”, on the basis of the amendments entered in the Patent Law of Georgia on January 11, 2018, in accordance with the commitments under the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union. During the meeting protection standards of inventions under the TRIPS Agreement and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, exceptions and limitations to patent rights, as well as issues related with special compulsory licences system were discussed.

The two-day workshop, held at Sakpatenti office, was opened by Irma Kavtaradze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Together with the representatives of the WTO, the meeting was also attended by experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as representatives of public agencies and the Parliament. 

Within the compulsory licensing, stipulated by the Patent Law of Georgia, it is possible to issue a compulsory license without the consent of the patent owner for the use of a patented invention and/or utility model on the territory of Georgia in case of a natural calamity, catastrophe, epidemics, national defense and defense of public health. Implementation of the above-mentioned mechanisms will facilitate ensuring guarantees for public health in Georgia and prevention of possibilities of use of patent rights in bad faith.