Bhutanese inventions will be granted patent protection if the inventor wishes to take it abroad encouraging more innovation and invention. But this will only be possible if Bhutan joins the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) that facilitates patent protection in multiple countries.
Towards this, the Department of Intellectual Property (DoIP) is carrying out a feasibility study for joining the treaty. A patent is one of the four intellectual property rights that provide protection for the inventions.
Experts from the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) shared that if Bhutan becomes a member of the treaty, it will spare the applicants from the hassle of having to file separately and repeatedly in every country.
The treaty will simplify the different procedures and requirements for patent filings.
“Bhutan will benefit being a PCT member. An applicant from Bhutan will benefit with a ninety per cent fee reduction in specific PCT fees, which is a very significant cost saving for national residents of Bhutan,” Anjali Aeri, the Counsellor of Patent and Technology Sector with WIPO, said.
“The advantage of this system is that the inventors of the member countries, they have the privilege to file a single application with a single set of fees and formalities and then obtain simultaneously the protection of this in 152 countries,” Tempa Tshering, the Officiating Chief IP Officer of DoIP, said.
A patent registry was established in Bhutan in 2012. From 41 applications till last year, 16 applicants were filed by Bhutanese inventors. The field of mechanical and electrical top the list of inventions by national applications.
The report from the feasibility study will be submitted to the cabinet for the treaty to be adopted.
