• Patent fees

Fees associated with filing patent applications in Liechtenstein as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Term for filing a patent application in Liechtenstein

The term of filing a patent application in Liechtenstein claiming priority is 12 months from the priority date. The restoration of this time limit is not possible.

• Filing requirements in Liechtenstein

The official languages for patent registration in Liechtenstein are German, French and Italian. If the patent application is filed in any other foreign language, the translation into one of the official languages or in English should be submitted 3 months after the filing date. If the patent application is filed in English, the translation into one of the official languages should be submitted 16 months after the filing date.

To obtain a filing date a patent application in Liechtenstein should contain:
- a request to grant a patent;
- applicant's and inventor's details;
- description of the invention, claim(s), abstract and drawings, if any;
- payment of the prescribed fees.

A certified copy of a Priority Document in one of the official languages or in English should be submitted within 16 months of the earliest priority date.

It is not usually required to submit a Power of Attorney. However, it may be requested by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).

• Examination of a patent application in Liechtenstein

The patent application undergoes both formal and substantive examination in Liechtenstein. No request for conduction of a substantive examination is required. Before the beginning of the substantive examination, the IPI sends an invoice for examination, which indicates a time limit for payment of the prescribed fees.

• Novelty grace period

If the invention became available to the public at an officially recognised international exhibition or when such a disclosure was made in bad faith by any third party within six months prior to the filing or priority date, this disclosure does not disprove the novelty of the invention in Liechtenstein.

• Grant, validity term and maintenance fees

When the examination procedure is successfully completed, the IPI shall register the patent in the Swiss Patent Register. After registration, the IPI shall publish a patent specification for a patent granted. The date of publication is the date of the grant. No grant and publication fees are required. Renewal fees should be paid for each patent application or granted a patent from the 4th year after the filing date. Renewal fees should be paid annually on the last day of the month in which the patent application was filed. Patents in Liechtenstein may be renewed within six months after the due date by paying the extra fee.

• Duration of registration procedure

The average processing time for patent registration procedure in Liechtenstein is 2-5 years.

• Utility Model

Legal protection of the invention as utility model in Liechtenstein is not possible.

• Representation by a patent attorney

Foreign persons should appoint an agent, a registered Swiss or Liechtenstein patent attorney, to perform the patent prosecution in Liechtenstein.

• Notes

1. Online Search Databases: Swiss Patents, European Patents (EPO).
2. Switzerland and Liechtenstein are a common territory for national invention patents as well as for European patents based on a bilateral treaty.
3. Patent protection in Liechtenstein may be obtained via EPO route without validation action.

The above information was verified on 15.06.2023
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Liechtenstein IP Laws