Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: Budapest, Hungary
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 19/08/1980

Category

Intellectual property

Sub category

Patents

Groups

WIPO

What is it about?

According to the present Treaty, a State party that allows or requires the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure must recognize, for such purposes, the deposit of a microorganism with any “international depositary authority”, irrespective of whether such authority is on or outside the territory of the said State. Disclosure of the invention is a requirement for the grant of patents. Normally, an invention is disclosed by means of a written description. Where an invention involves a microorganism or the use of a microorganism, disclosure is not possible in writing but can only be achieved by the deposit, with a specialized institution, of a sample of the microorganism. In practice, the term “microorganism” is interpreted in a broad sense, covering biological material the deposit of which is necessary for the purposes of disclosure, in particular regarding inventions relating to the food and pharmaceutical fields.

Why is it relevant?

This treaty simplifies the process of securing a patent for microorganisms in multiple countries. This simplification contributes to an increase in commercial trade between State parties. Holders of intellectual industrial rights are more inclined to export their technologies in States that provide legal patent protection.

Additional Information

The Union created by the present Treaty is composed of an Assembly and the International Bureau of WIPO. 34 international depositary authorities of microorganisms existed in 2003. Only Member States of the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property established by the Convention on Industrial Property can ratify this treaty.

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Albania19/06/2003
Armenia06/12/2004
Australia07/04/1987
Austria26/01/1984
Azerbaijan14/07/2003
Bahrain20/08/2012
Belarus19/07/2001
Belgium15/09/1983
Bosnia and Herzegovina27/10/2008
Brunei Darussalam24/04/2012
Bulgaria19/07/1978
Canada21/06/1996
Chile05/05/2011
China01/04/1995
Costa Rica30/06/2008
Croatia25/11/1999
Cuba19/11/1993
Czech Republic01/01/1993
Democratic People's Republic of Korea21/11/2001
Denmark01/04/1985
Dominican Republic03/04/2007
El Salvador17/05/2006
Estonia14/06/1996
Finland01/06/1985
France21/02/1980
Georgia30/06/2005
Germany20/10/1980
Greece30/07/1993
Guatemala14/07/2006
Honduras20/03/2006
Hungary11/07/1978
Iceland23/12/1994
India17/09/2001
Ireland15/09/1999
Israel26/01/1996
Italy23/12/1985
Japan19/05/1980
Jordan14/08/2008
Kazakhstan24/01/2002
Kyrgyzstan17/02/2003
Latvia29/09/1994
Liechtenstein19/05/1981
Lithuania09/02/1998
Luxembourg29/04/2010
Macedonia (The former Yugoslav Republic of)30/05/2002
Mexico21/12/2000
Moldova25/12/1991
Monaco23/10/1998
Montenegro03/06/2006
Morocco20/04/2011
Netherlands02/04/1987
Nicaragua10/05/2006
Norway01/10/1985
Oman16/07/2007
Panama07/06/2012
Peru20/10/2008
Philippines21/07/1981
Poland22/06/1993
Portugal16/07/1997
Qatar06/12/2013
Republic of Korea28/12/1987
Romania25/06/1999
Russian Federation22/01/1981
Serbia25/11/1993
Singapore23/11/1994
Slovakia01/01/1993
Slovenia12/12/1997
South Africa14/04/1997
Spain19/12/1980
Sweden23/06/1983
Switzerland19/05/1981
Tajikistan25/12/1991
Trinidad and Tobago10/12/1993
Tunisia23/02/2004
Turkey30/08/1998
Ukraine02/04/1997
United Kingdom29/09/1980
United States of America24/09/1979
Uzbekistan12/10/2001
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
19782
19791
19805
19814
19832
19841
19855
19873
19912
19937
19943
19953
19963
19974
19983
19993
20001
20014
20022
20033
20042
20051
20065
20072
20084
20101
20112
20123
20131
Total82
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