1.         ADDRESS:

Applicants must provide an address in Israel to which correspondence may be sent by the Patent Office.  The office will not send notices or receipts to addresses overseas.

       2.         REPRESENTATION:

Only a patent agent or an attorney registered to practice in Israel may represent an applicant.

       3.         PROTECTION AVAILABLE:

Patents - for twenty years from the date of application, subject to timely payment of renewal fees.

Patent of addition - as long as parent patent is in force, without payment of renewal fees.

       4.         REQUIREMENTS:

           ·         Valid PCT application designating Israel.

           ·         National Phase entry form (two copies); title to be in Hebrew and English. See National Phase entry form. The form is also available from the Patent Office.

           ·         Specification in English (two copies), which must be the specification originally filed with the PCT application, after amendment if desired, or English translation thereof.

           ·         Drawings (two copies).

           ·         Power of Attorney, if applicant is represented.

           ·         Receipt of Israel Postal Bank showing deposit in account of the Patent Office of the fees due at the time of entering the national phase - see Fees below.

           ·         Any assignment made after international filing date or evidence of recordal of such assignment. If the change is recorded by the International Bureau (IB) in the international phase and the Israel Patent Office is able to verify it by consulting the IB, no further document is required.

           ·         Accompanying letter listing enclosures and fees paid.

       5.         TIME LIMITS FOR ENTERING NATIONAL PHASE:

Under PCT Article 22(1): 30 months from the priority date.

Under PCT Article 39(1) (a): 30 months from the priority date.

     6.         FEES

  See Patent Fees

       7.         METHOD OF  PAYMENT OF FEES:

Payments of fees can be made:

a.    By deposit into the account of the Patent Office at any branch of the Israeli Postal Bank: Account Number - 0-24145-2. 

Payments should be made, if possible with a pre-printed deposit slip obtained from the Patent Office.  The portion of the payment receipt marked in Hebrew “for the Patent Commissioner” (or the original Post Office receipt if the pre-printed slip is not used) must be sent to the Patent Office together with a letter detailing the matter to which the payment relates.  Payment will only be considered as made on date of filing of portion of receipt (or original receipt) as above or in exception cases on filing a copy of the receipt if the original is presented within two weeks.

b.    Through the government site for on-line payments:

http://ecom1.gov.il/patents

The site is in Hebrew. A copy of the receipt must be forwarded to the Patent Office.

       8.         MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS:

           ·         Valid PCT application designating Israel.

           ·         Payment of the fee for entering the national phase in the manner specified in paragraph 7 within time limit in para. 5 above.

           ·         Filing copy of PCT application if not already transmitted by the International Bureau.

           ·         Verified English translation, if PCT application not filed or published in English.

       9.         OFFICE PROCEDURE:

Examination of completeness and form of documents.  Three months given for reply.

Publication of filing details in the Patent and Designs Journal.

Substantive examination (currently about 3 to 5 years from application date).  Applicant will be required to submit a list of all documents cited in searches made in other countries.  Introduction of new substantive matter during application proceedings may involve post-dating of the whole or part of the application to the date of introduction.

On acceptance, the second publication fee is due.

Abstracts of accepted applications are published in the Patents and Designs Journal and the file is opened to public inspection.

If no opposition is filed within three months of the second publication date a patent will be granted.

     10.        MISCELLANEOUS:

Compulsory licenses may be granted by the Commissioner in cases of abuse of monopoly.

Transfers of rights and licenses must be recorded to have effect against third parties.

Immediate substantive examination may be requested where the circumstances justify such.  (Requires affidavit as to justifying circumstances and fee - see FEES.)

     11.        SEE ALSO

National phase entry form.

PCT Applicant's Guide at the site   www.wipo.int/pct

Patent Fees