A positive recommendation decision was taken by the member states regarding the application made by Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TPE) to be recognized as International Research and Examination Authority (ISEA) by World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO).
In his speech, Fikri Işık, the Minister of Science, Industry, and Technology, said that Turkish Patent and Trademark Office had made an official application on March 15 to be recognized as ISEA by WIPO.
Stating that the matter was discussed at the 29th Meeting of the Committee of Technical Cooperation (CTC), within the scope of WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) held on May 18 in Geneva, Işık said that a positive recommendation decision was taken by the member states.
Stating that an extensive presentation was made in the meeting to prove the fact that Turkish Patent and Trademark Office meets the criteria for being an authority, Işık added: "A report was presented by South Korea and Spain, the countries with which we have cooperated in the process of becoming an authority, showing that TPE meets all the criteria. Representatives of many countries including USA, Japan, China, and South Korea stated at the committee meeting that TPE met all the criteria and that they supported it for being an international authority. The Chilean session moderator stated in his closing speech that they would recommend the decision regarding Turkish Patent and Trademark Office being appointed as ISEA to WIPO General Assembly that would be convened in October."
Emphasizing that Turkish Patent and Trademark Office has completed one of the most important steps to become an international authority, Işık said that the acceptance of the Institute as ISEA would be officially announced at the WIPO General Assembly that would be convened in Switzerland in October 3-11.
"5 million liras per year will be saved"
Indicating that a new era for Turkish Patent and Trademark Office will start, Işık noted: "After the treaty to be signed with WIPO, institutions that have been authorized to become an international research and examination authority before WIPO will gain the competency of preparing research and examination reports, which are valid in countries party to the treaty, for international patent applications made within PTC."
Stating that being an authority in this area will provide Turkey with prestige, Işık noted that it would also provide economic advantages. Mentioning that the research and examination reports of international patent applications, which are made by Turkish citizens and companies localized in the country within the scope of PCT, are arranged by European Patent Office (EPO), one of the 19 authorities, Işık added: "Almost 5 million liras are transferred to EPO every year in this context. This money will be saved when Turkey becomes an international authority. External fund transfer will be possible in the future by saving more money and meeting demands that will come from other countries."
Işık stated that in order to get authority competence within the scope of PCT, at least 100 patent experts with technical competence to prepare research/examination reports, access to the minimum documentation necessary for research/examination, foreign language competency of the experts, and the criteria for quality management system that covers all research/examination operations must be met.
