House ratifies patent convention

DEPUTIES yesterday voted to ratify the European Patent Convention and Patent Co-operation Treaty, but sidestepped the thorny problem of domestic legislation.

The House decided to rush through ratification after a closed door meeting of the House Commerce Committee early yesterday morning and amid indications Turkey was preparing to adhere to the same convention.

But the tricky question of a local law was left for later. The main stumbling block has been the effect the draft bill, particularly supplementary protection certificates and testing prior to expiration, would have on the local pharmaceutical industry.

Both the convention and the draft bill have been pending before the House since 1991. Documents sent to the Commerce Committee earlier this week indicate experts of the European Patent Office had suggested Turkey had an automatic right to adhere to the convention.

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