Sakpatenti is working on introducing a third - faster and cheaper way of obtaining a patent for an invention in Georgia by filing a European patent application and requesting its validation in Georgia. To attract international applicants in such a manner and to ensure patent protection according to the European standards, the Agreement on Validation of European Patents (Validation Agreement) was signed between the Government of Georgia and the European Patent Organisation (EPO) in 2019. For entry into force of the Agreement it is necessary to harmonize the Patent Law of Georgia with the European Patent Convention (EPC), the international agreement the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) and the legislation of the European Union countries. To ensure the above-mentioned, Sakpatenti has already drafted the relevant amendments and the Government of Georgia has submitted them to the Parliament.
The draft Law of Georgia “Amendments to the Patent Law of Georgia”, submitted by the Government as a legislative initiative, was already approved for the first reading by the members of the Legal Issues Committee and the Committee on European Integration of the Parliament of Georgia. Today, on June 1, 2022, Budget and Finance Committee discussed the amendments to the Law. The Draft was introduced to the members of the Parliament by Ms. Nino Chikovani, Acting Chairperson of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – “Sakpatenti”.
“Introducing the validation system, will simplify for foreign applicants obtaining patent protection in Georgia according to the European standard. This is a significant step forward for accession of Georgia to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and hence for joining the European Patent Organisation. The submitted draft amendments are aimed to protect industrial property and patent rights in accordance with the quality of protection existing in European countries and thereby to facilitate fulfillment of the commitments under the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia”, - Ms. Nino Chikovani noted at the session.
Currently, it is possible to obtain a patent for an invention in Georgia through direct filing of an application with Sakpatenti as well as by means of an international application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Obtaining of patent protection by the third way, through validation of a European patent on the territory of Georgia, will be possible after completion of the legislative process.
EPO is a second largest organization in Europe rendering public services, which carries out examination of applications to obtain patents for inventions and grants European patents. Its activities are directed to facilitate development of innovations, competitiveness and economic growth in Europe.
National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – “Sakpatenti” is a self-financing independent state agency, established in the organizational-legal form of a legal entity of public law, determining the state policy in the field of intellectual property. Its main activities are: ensuring the origination and enforcement of rights in intellectual property subject-matters; representation of Georgia at international organizations functioning in the intellectual property field; promotion of the development and improvement of the intellectual property protection system in the country, in particular, drafting of laws and other by-laws related to intellectual property and promotion of raising public awareness in the intellectual property field.