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Patent registration in Georgia allows inventors and companies to obtain legal protection for technical solutions including devices, processes, substances and combinations thereof. The procedure is handled by the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia — Sakpatenti — and includes the stages of filing, formal examination, substantive examination conducted upon applicant's request and grant. Georgia is a member of the Paris Convention and the PCT system, allowing applicants to claim priority from earlier applications and use international filing routes.
MIKHAILYUK, SOROKOLAT & PARTNERS offers the full range of legal services related to patent registration in Georgia including patent search, translation, filing and further prosecution of a Georgian patent application, patent maintenance, preparing and recordal of assignment and license agreements as well as representing applicants before courts. We do our best to represent our clients' interests in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
Routes to Obtain Patent Protection in Georgia
Patent protection in Georgia may be obtained by filing a national patent application with the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (Sakpatenti) or by validating a granted European patent in Georgia.
In the case of a PCT application, protection in Georgia may be pursued either by entering the national phase before Sakpatenti or by entering the European regional phase before the European Patent Office and subsequently validating the granted European patent in Georgia.
Inventions may also be protected as Utility Models in Georgia. Utility models offer a simpler registration route with a lower inventive step requirement; the maximum term of protection is 10 years from the filing date.
Foreign applicants must be represented before the Office by a registered Georgian patent attorney.
Patentability Requirements in Georgia
To obtain a patent in Georgia, an invention must comply with the standard patentability criteria established by Georgian patent law.
- Novelty — the invention shall be considered new if it does not form part of the state of the art, i.e. it has not been disclosed anywhere in the world prior to the filing or priority date.
- Inventive Step — the invention must not be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant technical field.
- Industrial Applicability — the invention must be capable of being made or used in any kind of industry or another practical field.
During substantive examination, Sakpatenti evaluates whether the application meets these requirements before granting the patent.
Key Facts About Patent Protection in Georgia
Years Validity
Standard validity term of a patent in Georgia from filing date
Months (PCT)
The term for entering the Georgian national phase of a PCT application
Months Grace
Novelty grace period from disclosure of information on the invention before filing or priority date, if priority is claimed
Months (Conv.)
The term for filing a conventional patent application in Georgia
The validity term of a patent in Georgia is 20 years from the filing date. For pharmaceutical patents and patents for agrochemicals it is possible to apply for an extension of this term for additional 5 years. In case a patent is extended, the Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) will be issued.
Patent Registration Procedure in Georgia
The procedure of patent registration in Georgia takes from 2 to 3 years. The term for entering the Georgian national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date. The term for filing a conventional patent application in Georgia is 12 months from the priority date.
Filing & Formal Examination
After completion of the filing procedure, a Georgian patent application undergoes a formal examination lasting 2–3 months. On condition that an applicant submits all required documents, a notification about the positive result of the formal examination will be issued.
Substantive Examination
A substantive examination must be requested within 2 months from the date of the notification about the positive result of the formal examination. If the invention meets the requirements of patentability, the decision to grant a patent will be issued.
Grant & Publication
After payment of the official fees for grant, publication and the first post-grant annuities, the patent data will be published in the Official Bulletin. The term for payment of the prescribed fees is 2 months from the date of the decision to grant a patent.
“In Georgia, don't wait for a reminder — the request for substantive examination is due just two months after issuance of the Official Notification on completion of the formal examination, making this one of the tightest windows among PCT states. Our advice: calendar this deadline as soon as you receive the notification, rather than waiting until the last moment.”
Required Documents and Information
The documents required to file a patent application in Georgia are listed below. Please note that some must be submitted at the time of filing, while others may be provided within a set period after the application date.
If you need further information concerning patent registration in Georgia or a quotation for filing and prosecution of a Georgian patent application, please feel free to contact us.
Required at Filing
Filing instructions
Comprising the applicant's and inventor's names, addresses and citizenships.
Technical files
A specification with claims, abstract and drawings.
Application data
A filing number and a date of a priority application or a PCT application.
Note:
All documents should be provided in high-quality PDF format. Please ensure that all signatures are clearly visible. A copy of the amendments may be submitted if applicable.
May be submitted after filing
Power of Attorney
Simply signed and stamped by the applicant(s). Legalization and notarization are not required unless signed by a proxy-holder.
Deadline: 2 months from filing dateGeorgian Translation
A full Georgian translation of the application, if filed in a language other than Georgian.
Deadline: 2 months from filing dateAssignment Deed
From author to applicant if they are not the same person
Deadline: 2 months from filing datePriority Document
For conventional applications — a certified copy of the priority document if priority is claimed.
Deadline: 16 months from priority datePatent Budget Structure in Georgia
The total investment required for patent registration in Georgia is not fixed and depends on several critical factors. These include the number of claims and pages in the application, the requirement of translation into the Georgian language and the specific legal strategy chosen for protection before Sakpatenti.
Typically, the patenting budget consists of three primary components: official government fees, professional attorney fees and associated costs.
Official Government Fees
Filing, examination and grant each trigger a separate official fee, set by Sakpatenti
Annual renewal payments, due in advance for each year of the patent term
An official fee applies when recording a transfer or license agreement with Sakpatenti
An official fee applies when validating a granted European patent in Georgia
Professional Attorney Fees
Calculated directly based on the total number of pages
Covers responding to Patent Office actions and completing the process through to grant
Per agreement — attorney fee for preparing and recording IP transfer or license agreements (official fee applies separately)
Associated Expenses
Flat fee per report (based on databases searched and the technical field's complexity)
Billed per 100 words (translation into Georgian required)
Based on the number of pages and words to be translated; official fee applies separately
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the main routes to obtain patent protection in Georgia?Patent protection in Georgia may be obtained by filing a national patent application with Sakpatenti, validating a granted European patent or by entering the Georgian national phase of a PCT application. Protection for less complex inventions is also available through utility model registration.
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Does Georgia conduct a substantive examination of patent applications?Yes. Sakpatenti conducts both formal and substantive examination of patent applications. Substantive examination must be requested by the applicant within 2 months from receipt of the positive formal examination notification.
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Is representation by a Georgian patent attorney required for foreign applicants?Yes. Applicants who do not have a residence or place of business in Georgia must be represented by a registered Georgian patent attorney before Sakpatenti.
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What is the PCT national phase deadline in Georgia?The term for entering the Georgian national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date.
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What language requirements apply to patent applications in Georgia?Patent applications may be filed in any language to secure a filing date; however, a full Georgian translation of the application must be submitted to Sakpatenti within 2 months after filing.
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Can an applicant amend the patent application during prosecution in Georgia?Yes. The applicant may amend the description, claims or drawings, provided that the amendments do not extend beyond the content of the application as originally filed, and they are submitted before the decision to grant the patent is issued by Sakpatenti.
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For how long is a patent valid in Georgia?A patent in Georgia is valid for 20 years from the filing date of the application, subject to the timely payment of annual maintenance fees to Sakpatenti. For pharmaceutical patents and agrochemicals, an extension of up to 5 additional years is available via a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC).
