Saudi Arabia Becomes a New Member of PCT
31-Jul-2013 RIYADH – The Saudi Patent Office announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now an official signatory member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), thus becoming the 147th Contracting State of the PCT. The Treaty was originally drafted in Washington on June 19, 1970, amended on September 28, 1979, modified on February 3, 1984, and on October 3, 2001.
The PCT makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries by filing an "international" patent application. Applications may be filed by anyone who is a national or resident of Saudi Arabia.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), PCT will enter into effect in Saudi Arabia on August 3, 2013. Consequently, any international application filed on or after August 3, 2013 will automatically include the designation of Saudi Arabia.
Applicants should enter the national phase within 18 months from the international filing date or 30 months from the filing date of the first corresponding application. Applicants may also delay examination procedures at national patent offices and the payment of legal fees and translation costs.