Fees associated with the Slovakian PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.
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Deadline for the PCT national phase entry in Slovakia
The time limit applicable for entry into the Slovak national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date. This term may be restored within 12 months following the expiry of the deadline.
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Minimum of filing documents in Slovakia
For obtainment of a date of filing a patent application based on PCT in Slovakia should contain the applicant’s and inventor’s details.
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Language of the Slovak patent application
The patent application must be prosecuted in the national language which is Slovak. If the international application is filed in any other foreign language, the Slovak translation should be provided within two months from entering the PCT national phase.
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Power of Attorney requirements
The non-legalized and non-notarized Power of Attorney is sufficient for the Slovakian PCT national stage entry. After filing an application, the Slovak PTO sets the term for filing POA. Usually, it is two months from entering the Slovak PCT national phase.
If the applicant is not the inventor or one of the inventors, the assignment deed confirming the applicant's right needs be submitted. No official legalisation or notarization is required. However, this requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been filed during PCT phase. In general, it may be filed after entering the Slovak national phase of a PCT application.
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Substantive examination request
Request to conduct the substantive examination of a Slovak patent application has to be filed no later than 36 months after filing an application and cannot be withdrawn.
If the disclosure of information about the invention has been made by the applicant at the officially recognised exhibition within six months before the date of filing, or, if priority is claimed, before the date of priority, such disclosure does not disprove the novelty of an invention. In this case, the applicant is obliged to state when filing the application that the invention has been exhibited and to provide a certificate of issuance of the invention within four months after the date of international filing the application.
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Grant and patent maintenance fees
The fees for maintaining the patent in force are due for each year of the validity of the patent. The first maintenance fee for the patent is payable upon invitation, within three months from the date of the decision on patent grant, for the period from the filing of the patent application including the year of the decision on grant. For each subsequent year of validity of the patent, the fees are due, without invitation, prior to the expiration of the preceding year of validity. Late payment is possible within six months grace period by paying a corresponding 100% surcharge.
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Representation by a patent attorney
For the foreigners, it is required to perform the patent prosecution in Slovakia through an agent, registered Slovak patent attorney
1. Online Search databases: Slovakian Patents, European Patents (EPO).
2. The PCT application may also be nationalised in Slovakia via European route and its further validation in Slovakia.
3. Entering the Slovak PCT national stage for utility model applications is possible.
Brief summary is based on the information provided by MILOJEVIC, SEKULIC & ASSOCIATES on 08.03.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Slovak IP Laws.