Switzerland (CH) |
| Read term notes | |
| Current term: | 20 Years |
| From: | Date of Filing |
| Discontinuity Dates: | No |
| Term Notes: | All patents in force on 01/01/1978 were extended to 20 years. |
| Extension Possible: | Yes As of 01/09/1995, up to 5 years extension may be applied for pharmaceuticals. See EU Regulations 1768/92 (Supplementary Protection Certificate). |
| Member of PCT: | Yes (01/06/1978) |
| Region: | EPC (07/10/1977) |
| Country Notes: | Switzerland has withdrawn its declaration that it would not be bound by Chapter II of the PCT, with effect from 01/09/1995.
PCT regulations have been amended and now allow national or regional phase entry to be delayed until 30 months from the earliest priority date. Switzerland has no yet indicated when this change will be made to its legislation. 28/02/2004 UPDATE: Article 22(1) of the PCT was amended on 04/10/2001. The amendments took effect on 01/04/2002 from which date the time limit for entry into the national/regional phase will be globally extended from 20 to 30 months. The Intellectual Property Office of Switzerland is not applying the new time limit. |
| Current Law: | Patents Act 25/06/1954, Amendments 17/12/1976, 16/12/1994, 03/02/1995 |
| Effective From: | 01/01/1978 |
| Current Rules: | Patents Ordinance 19/10/1977, Amendments 17/05/1995 |
| Effective From: | 01/01/1978 |
| Law Notes: | Some parts of the Ordinance did not take effect until 01/06/1978. |
| Database Coverage | |
| Derwent WPI: | Yes From 15/02/1963 Pharmaceuticals (Section B) From 15/04/1965 Agrochemicals (Section C) From 15/01/1969 Plastics & Polymers (Section A) From 27/02/1970 All Chemical (Sections A-M) From 15/05/1974 All Engineering (Sections P-X) |
| INPADOC: | Yes From 31/03/1969 All Technologies (All Technologies) |