Malta Bill Amending the Patents and Designs Act

| Published on 04 Jul 2014

Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates CCMalta default banner

Proposed Bill Amending the Patents and Designs Act

A bill has been tabled in Parliament (the “Bill”) to amend the Patents and Designs Act (the “Act”).

The Bill proposes several amendments to the Act however the most significant proposal is the setting up of the Patents Tribunal – a specialized court which is to have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine claims relating to patent infringement and revocation and actions related thereto.Claims for damages arising from patent infringement will continue to be heard and determined by the Civil Court, First Hall.

Other significant amendments are proposed such as:

  1. The Comptroller is granted the authority to oblige an applicant to provide a search report when submitting a patent application;
  2. Changes to the examination of the formalities of a patent application;
  3. Changes relating to the manner by which a patent is revoked; and  
  4. Changes in the way in which an application is determined to have an earlier filing date when priority is claimed.

Request More Information

Please send me legal and other updates

Key Contacts

Dr Maria Chetcuti Cauchi

Senior Partner, Property & Projects

+356 2205 6112
mcc@ccmalta.com

Dr Charlene Mifsud

Partner, Corporate & Commercial

+356 2205 6298
ccmifsud@ccmalta.com

Related Practice Groups