Malta: Joins PCT and EPC

Malta, which became a member of the European Union (EU) on May 1, 2004, has finally joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the European Patent Convention (EPC), both with effect from March 1, 2007.

The Government of the Republic of Malta deposited its instruments of accession to the PCT and the EPC on December 1, 2006.

It should be noted that Malta can only be designated in new PCT International Patent Applications filed on or after March 1, 2007. With respect European Applications, only applications having a filing date on or after March 1, 2007 can designate Malta, but in the case of European Applications, it will be possible to file them during the month of February, 2007, with a designation of Malta, provided that an express request that their filing dates be postponed to March 1, 2007 is also included.