Member States Meet to Discuss Harmonization of Patent Laws

Geneva, December 3, 2002
Press Updates UPD/2002/180

Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) continued discussions on further global harmonization of substantive patent in Geneva last week. The Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP), at its eighth session held from November 25 to 29, 2002, considered revised provisions of the draft Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT). The Committee was attended by representatives from 76 member states, four intergovernmental organizations and 23 non-governmental organizations.

The draft SPLT covers a number of basic legal principles relating to the grant and validity of patents in different countries. It aims, in particular, at ensuring that applicants in all contracting parties, are subject to the same substantive conditions for the grant of patents and the invalidation of granted patents, and at contributing to the reduction of duplication of search and examination work in patent offices.

The SCP made further progress towards a common understanding on several issues arising from differences that exist among patent systems. While agreement in principle was achieved on a number of draft provisions, discussions on provisions, such as those relating to the grace period and the scope of patentable subject matter, were postponed. It was also decided to include proposals relating to the protection of public health, genetic resources, traditional knowledge and a number of other public policy issues, in the draft Treaty, on the understanding that substantive discussion of these provisions would be postponed.

The next session of the SCP is tentatively scheduled to take place from May 12 to 16, 2003.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

• Tel: (+41 22) - 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
• Fax: (+41 22) - 338 88 10
• Email: publicinf@wipo.int.