Patents, Plant Patents, Plant Breeders’ Rights

As part of our every day work we handle patent applications (including plant patents and plant breeders' rights), below is some useful information we gathered as a courtesy to our foreign colleagues.

Important facts about filing a Patent Application in Israel:

• The Israeli Patent Authority allows filing a patent application in English, Hebrew and Arabic. Now days, most Patent Applications in Israel are filed in English, both by foreign applicants and by Israeli applicants.
• The normal pendency of the applications in Israel is 3-5 years (usually slightly longer then in the USA).
• Israel is a member of the Paris Convention, and is also a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
• National Phase applications (PCT) in Israel are to be filed withing 30 months from the priority date.
• A third party can file an objection to the registration of a Patent Application in Israel during the 3 months publication period.
• Non patentable subject matter in Israel: Therapeutic treatment of the human body (medication and diagnostic methods for humans are patentable) and New varieties of plants or animals (microbiological organisms, which are not derived from nature are patentable).
• Weekend in Israel: Friday and Saturday (important note – Sunday is a normal work day in Israel). Deadlines set to Friday or Saturday are automatically extended to Sunday.

Filing requirements:

• Applicant's details & address;
• A copy of the application and any amendments filed or to be filed (preferably in an editable format);
• Applicant's origin of rights (inventor, contract or assignment, law, etc.);
• Priority detailed and certified priority document, if such is claimed ( priority must be claimed within 2 months of filing, English translation required);
• If the application is a PCT national phase, a copy of: the PCT publication, the International Search Report, Written Opinion, the International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter I / Chapter II), Demand as filed (if filed).
• Simply signed Power of Attorney (no legalization or notarization are required).

You can send us Filing instructions via our website or via email.