Fees associated with the Liechtenstein PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.
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Deadline for entering the PCT national phase in Liechtenstein
The time limit for Liechtenstein national phase entry of a PCT application is 30 months from the date of priority. The restoration of this time limit is not possible.
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Filing requirements in Liechtenstein
The official languages for patent registration in Liechtenstein are German, French and Italian. Translation into one of the official languages is required simultaneously with entering PCT national phase in Liechtenstein.
To obtain the date of filing a PCT national phase patent application in Liechtenstein should contain:
- written confirmation of the name of the inventor;
- declaration of the source of genetic resources and traditional knowledge;
- international application in one of the official languages;
- payment of the official filing fee.
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).
If the name and address of the inventor have not already been furnished in the international application, the applicant must furnish the inventor’s name and address and make a Declaration of Inventorship. Certification is not required. The declaration of inventorship must be written in or translated into one of the official languages (French, German or Italian) or in English.
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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 beginning of the substantive examination, the IPI sends an invoice for examination, where it indicates a time limit for payment of the prescribed fees.
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.
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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 in Liechtenstein. Renewal fees should be paid for each patent application or granted patent from the fourth year after the international filing date. Renewal fees should be paid annually on the last day of the month in which the patent application based on the PCT was filed. Patents in Liechtenstein may be renewed within six months after the due date by paying the extra fees.
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Duration of registration procedure
The average processing time for entering the Liechtenstein PCT national phase is 2-5 years.
It is not possible to enter the national phase of a PCT application as a utility model in Liechtenstein.
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Representation by a patent attorney
Foreign persons should appoint an agent, a registered Swiss or Liechtenstein patent attorney, to perform the Liechtenstein PCT national phase entry.
1. Online Search Databases: Swiss Patents, European Patents (EPO).
2. Under the Patent Treaty it is possible to obtain only a unitary patent in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In an international application the designation of either State automatically has the effect of the designation of both States, which cannot be designated independently from each other.
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