Patent Law Treaty

The Patent Law Treaty (PLT) is a patent law multilateral treaty concluded on 1 June 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland, by 53 States and the European Patent Organisation (an intergovernmental organization). Its aim is to harmonize formal procedures such as the requirements to obtain a filing date for a patent application, the form and content of a patent application, and representation.

As of 19 October 2016, the PLT has 39 contracting states, while 59 states and the European Patent Organisation have signed the treaty.

The Canadian government tabled 5 treaties in the House of Commons on 27 January 2014. Among the treaties is the PLT. However, the government has not yet tabled legislation to incorporate the treaties in Canadian law, but the tabling of the treaties is a strong signal that the government is moving ahead with harmonization of its IP laws.

Prior to the entry into force of the treaty in France, a bill was submitted on 14 January 2009 at the French Senate proposing the ratification of the PLT by France. In March 2009, a report from French Senator Rachel Mazuir recommended the ratification of the PLT, as soon as possible, by France. On 24 July 2009, the government was authorized to ratify the PLT. The PLT then entered into force for France on 5 January 2010.

The Treaty was ratified by the United States on 18 September 2013. Parts of the PLT were applied to U.S. patent law with the passage of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012.

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