Sections 3 and 6 of the Patents (Amendment) Act 2003 came into force on August 14, 2003. These sections affect the duration of a patent (which heretofore was 15 years from the date of grant). As to patent applications filed before August 1, 2001 and pending on that date, and patents granted before August 1, 2001 and still in force on that date, the duration will be:

• either 20 years from the filing date of the application

• or 15 years from the date of grant,
  
  whichever term is longer.
  

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next>>