Georgia – Validation of European patents
Since 2010, the European Patent Organisation (EPO) has signed various validation agreements with non-member states. With effect from 15th January 2024, a validation agreement between the EPO and Georgia entered into force, so bringing the total number of validation states to five alongside Morocco, the Republic of Moldova, Tunisia and Cambodia. These agreements mean that proprietors of European (EP) patent rights can validate their EP patent applications and granted EP patents in these five jurisdictions, which then give equivalent rights to and are subject to the same conditions as national patents granted there.
Regarding the recent entry into force of the validation agreement with Georgia, the EPO President, António Campinos, commented that this “broadens the attractiveness and accessibility of the European patent system. It will also further reduce processing times and costs for applicants, as well as the administrative burden for the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia, while guaranteeing the highest levels of legal certainty”.
The chairman of the Georgian patent office (Sakpatenti), Mr Soso Giorgadze, said that “[i]t is an important step for Georgia, which was just granted EU candidate status. The entry into force of the validation agreement will contribute to further integration of the national economy into the European market. It will also simplify procedures and enhance protection of industrial property in Georgia.".
The validation agreements, in tandem with an existing extension agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, mean that the number of countries for which patent protection can be obtained on the basis of a single European patent application rises to 45. The European regional system therefore represents a convenient and cost-effective means of offering widespread geographical coverage to patent applicants. As a result, these countries’ markets inevitably become more attractive to holders of European patents and foreign investment is encouraged.
