More than ever in these trying times we often see human resilience and ingenuity. It is anticipated that our creative and inventive people will be developing solutions to problems surrounding the present pandemic crisis.

Innovations may not necessarily be new pharmaceuticals or vaccines but can include new inventions can include new protective gear, sanitising procedures, devices and chemicals etc. Patents are one form of protecting such inventions from unauthorized use. It is strongly advised that any new invention or proposed invention be evaluated initially by the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) for novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability.

Clients are free to contact the TTIPO for guidance through via info@ipo.gov.tt and our IPOTrinbago handle at Facebook, Twitter and YouTube regarding prior art searches for older inventions similar to your own. Patents require the invention to be brand new in the whole world, therefore it ought to be searched thoroughly before filing.

Those who have fully drafted patent applications can avail themselves to our online filing platform WIPO File. Please see our webpage for directions by clicking here and directions for payments here.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international patent filing system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It allows an applicant to file in multiple contracting states with a single application. It does not grant patents but it reserves a date of filing in those countries. Trinidad and Tobago is party to the PCT. Applicants with fully drafted applications who wish to file in multiple countries may do so through the PCT. There is a general PCT filing video on YouTube.

Applicants that have PCT applications pending before the International Bureau of WIPO and have time limits looming or are being hindered from attending to certain actions because of restrictions can note the “Interpretative statement and Recommended PCT Practice Changes in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic”  signed by WIPO Director General Francis Gurry and published on April 9, 2020.

PCT applicants can monitor their files and receive notices online via the ePCT portal. Please see the guide by clicking here. You will need to create a WIPO Account first.