International IP Updates: PCT, Hague & Patent Grants

Recent developments across the international IP landscape are creating new opportunities and administrative options for patent and design rights holders.

The Bahamas is set to become the newest member of the PCT, while the USPTO and Ghana have agreed to establish a new mechanism for accelerating the grant of corresponding patents.

At the same time, the Eurasian Patent Office has acceded to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement, and WIPO has introduced changes to the Hague System rules concerning the recording and updating of creator information.

Together, these developments reflect continued efforts to facilitate international IP protection and improve the administration of rights across multiple jurisdictions.

The Bahamas Accedes to the PCT

On 19 May 2026, The Bahamas deposited its instrument of accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), formally joining the PCT as its 159th member. The PCT will enter into force for The Bahamas on 19 August 2026.

Practical Impact

From 19 August 2026, Bahamian applicants and inventors will be able to file a single international application under the PCT to seek patent protection in all PCT Contracting States.

Innovators in The Bahamas will also benefit from a consolidated route to protecting their inventions in international markets, including key export destinations such as the United States, Canada and Europe.

Foreign applicants and businesses will likewise be able to use the PCT System when seeking patent protection for their inventions in The Bahamas. International applications filed on or after 19 August 2026 will automatically designate The Bahamas.

USPTO and Ghana Agree to Establish Accelerated Patent Grant Arrangement

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Ghana’s Registrar General’s Department, Ministry of Justice (GHIPO), have signed a statement of intent to establish an Accelerated Patent Grant (APG) arrangement. The statement represents the USPTO’s first APG arrangement with an African country, and its 10th such agreement with a partner intellectual property office.

The statement of intent was signed on 9 July 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual meeting of WIPO. It is intended to establish a worksharing arrangement between the two offices.

The arrangement will remain in place for five years from the date of signing.

Practical Impact

Under the proposed APG process, an eligible applicant who has obtained a U.S. patent may request that GHIPO grant a patent for a corresponding Ghanaian patent application that remains pending before the office.

U.S.-based applicants accounted for 33% of foreign patent applications filed in Ghana in 2024, according to WIPO. The proposed APG arrangement therefore provides a framework for closer cooperation between the USPTO and GHIPO while supporting applicants seeking patent protection in both jurisdictions.

Further guidance on implementation of the APG arrangement, including details of the procedure for using the mechanism, will be published on the GHIPO website.

EAPO Accedes to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement

The Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) has acceded to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

On 10 July 2026, EAPO deposited its instrument of accession with WIPO, becoming the third regional intergovernmental organization to join the Hague System, the 78th Contracting Party to the Geneva Act and the 84th member of the Hague Union.

Practical Impact

The EAPO's participation in the Hague System will give applicants in the Eurasian region an additional route to international protection for their industrial designs and may facilitate access to foreign markets.

From 10 October 2026, applicants will be able to designate EAPO in an international design application filed through the Hague System. The accession will extend the Hague System's coverage to 101 countries, further expanding its geographical reach for designers and businesses.

WIPO Updates Hague System Rules on Designer Information

WIPO has amended the Regulations under the 1999 Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement to introduce new procedures for recording and updating information about the creator of an industrial design. The amendments came into force on 1 July 2026.

Practical Impact

The amended rules allow creator information to be added to an existing international registration where it was not previously recorded.

A holder of an international registration may request that the creator's name and address be recorded in the International Register. The request may relate to individual designs covered by the international registration or to all designs included in it.

The amendments also allow previously recorded creator information to be updated, including the creator's name and/or address.

WIPO has also introduced Form DM/10, enabling holders of international design registrations to add or update designer information in the International Register. Requests can be filed electronically through the Hague System and are subject to a fee of CHF 144 for the first registration and CHF 72 for each additional registration. Once recorded, the updated information will be published in the International Designs Bulletin.

What This Means for IP Owners and Attorneys

These developments create new opportunities for applicants seeking international patent and design protection. IP owners and attorneys should review their filing strategies in light of the Bahamas’ new PCT membership, the proposed accelerated patent grant route between the USPTO and Ghana, and the expanded Hague System coverage.

WIPO’s updated procedures for recording and updating creator information also provide greater flexibility for managing international design registrations.

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