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INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

PCT

Accession to the PCT by Malta (MT)

On 1 December 2006, Malta deposited its instrument of accession to the PCT which will enter into force for Malta on 1 March 2007. Consequently, any international application filed on or after 1 March 2007 will automatically include the designation of Malta. Furthermore, nationals and residents of Malta will be entitled, as from 1 March 2007, to file international applications under the PCT with the Malta Industrial Property Registrations Directorate (at the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications), the International Bureau or the European Patent Office as receiving Office. It is noted that the instrument of accession contains the declaration that Malta does not consider itself bound by Article 59 PCT.

Malta will also become bound by the European Patent Convention (EPC) on 1 March 20071. Since Malta has closed the national route via the PCT, in international applications filed on or after 1 March 2007, Malta will only be considered as designated for a European patent and not for a national patent.

Further information has been published in the December issue of the PCT Newsletter2 and in a WIPO Update.