Examination of applications for patents and issue of patents for inventions, right of priority, immunity derived from disclosure, administrative remedy, patents register, applications for European patents and international applications, opposition procedure for preliminary examinations, etc.: Ordinance on Patents for Inventions
Adopted 19 October 1977. Entered into effect 1 January 1978 (Titles 7, 8 and 9 entered into effect 1 June 1978) (Ordinance on Patents, OBI, RS 232.141, RO 1977 2027).
Most recent amendments:
Articles 3, 4, 12, 15, 18c, 19 (repealed), 19a (repealed), 24, 25, 34, 43, 51, 62, 62a, 63, 70, 89, 90, 92, 93, 96, 108, and 127c, adopted 3 December 2004, entered into effect 1 January 2005 (RO 2004 5025): Drafting changes, updating of the three linguistic versions.
Articles 8a, 21, 37, 43a, 52, 90, 91, 95, 105 to 107, 122, 122a, 122b, 125, 125c, and 127b,
adopted 18 October 2006, entered into effect 1 January 2007 (RO 2006 4483): Amendments required following the modification of the Regulation on Fees (IPI-RT; RS 232.148, see above) and the revision of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT; RS 0.232.141.1).
Article 117, adopted 17 October 2007, entered into effect 13 December 2007 (RO 2007 6085): Amendment required following the redrafting of the Implementing Regulations to the Convention on the Grant of European Patents (EPC; RS 0.232.142.21).
Article 117, adopted 14 March 2008, entered into effect 1 May 2008 (RO 2008 1659): Amendments implementing the Agreement on the Application of Article 65 of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents (Language Agreement; RS 0.232.142.202).
Editorial amendments; preamble; Articles 1, 4, 4b, 8 to 11, 14, 16, 17a, 18, and 20; heading preceding Article 21; Articles 21, 22, 24, 26 to 28, 30, 31a, 32, 34, 37 to 39, 39a, 40, 43, and 43a; heading preceding Article 45a; Article 45a; heading preceding Article 45b; Article 45b to 45j; heading preceding Article 46; Articles 46, 46a to 46e, 47, 48, 48a to 48d, and 49 to 52; heading preceding Article 53; Articles 53, 53a, 54, 54a, and 55 to 58; heading preceding Article 59; Article 59, and 59a to 59c; heading preceding Article 60; Articles 60, 60a to 60c, 61a, 62, 62a, 63 to 67, and 69; heading preceding Article 70; Article 72; heading preceding Article 73; Articles 73 to 88; heading preceding Article 89; Articles 90, 92, 94, 97, 98a, 101, and 104 to 106; heading preceding Article 108; Article 109; heading preceding Article 111; Article 111, and 111a to 111c; heading preceding Article 112; Articles 112, 112a to 112f, 118, 122, 123, 124, 125a, 126, 127, 127b, and 127l; and transitional prov., adopted 21 May 2008, entered into effect 1 July 2008 (RO 2008 2585): Revision required mainly due to the recent amendments to the Law on Patents, in particular in the following areas (second part):
- Biotechnological inventions;
- approval of the Patent Law Treaty (PLT).
Other amendments aim to provide a better response to users' needs.
Details of amendments adopted on 21 May 2008, by group of provisions:
Amendments to the Swiss patent procedure
- General provisions: Articles 4. 6, 4b, 8, 9.1, 10.2, 14.1, 14.2, 16.2, 18.3, 24.2
- Application: Articles 21, 26.1, 26.3, 34, 37.1, 37.2, 38.1 to 38.3, 39.2 to 39.4, 39a(2) and (3), 40.5bis, 43a
- Examination of application: Articles 46, 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e, 46f, 47, 48a, 48c, 50, 51, 53, 53a, 54, 56, 57, 59, 59a ff, 60, 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, 62
- Opposition procedure: Articles 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
- File and patents register: Articles 90, 91, 98a
- European patent applications, European patents, and international patent applications
Amendments concerning biotechnological inventions: Articles 118, 122, 122a, 124, 126
- Sequence listing: Article 27
- Indications of the source of genetic resources and traditional knowledge: Article 45a
- Deposit of biological material: Article 45b to 45j
Supplementary protection certificate for medicines and phytosanitary products: Article 127b, 127l
Compulsory licences for the export of pharmaceutical products
- Content of legal claim: Article 111
- Measures to identify products: Article 111a
- Licence holder's duty to publish information: Article 111b
- Institute's obligation to inform and notify: Article 111c
Intervention of the Customs Administration
- Scope: Article 112
- Request for intervention: Article 112a
- Detention of goods: Article 112b
- Samples: Article 112c
- Protection of manufacturing and business secrets: Article 112d
- Conservation of evidence in the event of the destruction of goods: Article 112e
- Emoluments: Article 112f
