Validation agreement between the European Patent Organisation and Georgia
From January 15, 2024, inventors and businesses are able to validate in Georgia on the basis of the country’s national law their European patent applications and patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO).
As a result, those European patent applications and patents validated in Georgia under the agreement will have the same effect and be subject to the same conditions as Georgia’s national patents.
The accompanying technical co-operation between the EPO and the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia, SAKPATENTI, will bolster the development of Georgia’s national patent system and further foster innovation. The validation of European patents is also an important element for attracting foreign investment to Georgia.
The European Patent Organisation has 39 member states, including 27 member states of the European Union and 12 non-EU member states. Georgia will be the 5th country with the validation status and the 45th country where patent protection will be possible on the basis of a European patent application.
Under validation agreements, inventors and businesses are provided with a simple, timely and cost-efficient way of achieving high-level protection for an invention in the validation state, based on one single European patent application and without having to file a corresponding national patent application.
Validation for Georgia may be requested for any European patent or international (PCT) application filed on or after January 15, 2024.