Armenia

What Can Be Protected As An Invention?

  • Swiss-type claims (the first, second or subsequent medical use of a known substance or composition).
  • Also technical solutions (products and/or methods) from any field of technology which after examination have been proven to be new (of novelty), inventive (possessing the inventive step), and industrially applicable.

What Cannot Be Protected As An Invention?

  • Aesthetic and thereby non-technical creations.
  • Game regulations and guidelines for intellectual and economic activity.
  • Scientific theories, Discoveries, and Mathematical Methods.
  • Plant and animal varieties as well as the biological means of obtaining them.
  • Computer programs.
  • Presentations of information.
  • The modification of human genes as well as methods for cloning humans.
  • The use of human embryos in commercial or industrial purposes.
  • Any other invention contrary to morality or public policy.
  • Methods of treatment.
  • Methods of diagnostics.

Deadline: For filing of a national patent application in Armenia, the application is required to be filed with the Armenian Patent Office (AmPTO) within twelve (12) months from the earliest priority date.

Representation: The client must be represented at the Armenian Patent office by a registered Armenian Patent Attorney.

Translation: Application materials should be translated and filed in the Armenian language.

Formal Examination: The process for the examination of Patent Applications in Armenia includes a formal examination within two (2) months after filing, for the crosschecking of required documentation. In the case of accurate documentation, a notification of the positive outcome of the formal examination will be issued. If no opposition from a third party follows, then a Preliminary Patent is issued at the responsibility of the applicant.

Substantive Examination: Written evidences for substantive examination should be filed on the client’s request within seven (7) years from the application filing date of the Preliminary Patent in which the invention will be checked for novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.

Office Action: In case of an Office Action our Armenian Patent Attorney will carefully review the Office Action to provide a Legal Opinion and discuss with the Applicant options available in overcoming said Office Action.

Duration: The procedure for registration of a patent in Armenia usually takes between one (1) and two (2) years.

Fees: The patent is issued after payment of the registration and publication fees.

Maintenance: Maintenance fees regarding the patent are required to be paid annually with annuity for the following year being made in the current year of validity.

Validity: In Armenia the Preliminary Patent is valid for ten (10) years after the initial filing date and the Patent is valid for twenty (20) years after the initial filing date of the Patent Application, extendable by five (5) years in the case of natural disasters, war, or similar unpredictable events.

Required documents for Filing a Patent Application in Armenia:

  • Applicant’s information (name and address);
  • Inventor’s information (name and address);
  • Description, claims, abstract and drawings, disclosing the invention;
  • Original of the POA signed by applicant(s). Notarization or Legalization is not required.

Protection in Armenia can also be made through the EAPO (Eurasian Patent Office).