Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Armenia
- Section 1 General
- Section 2 Private and/or non-commercial use
- Section 3 Experimental use and/or scientific research
- Section 4 Preparation of medicines
- Section 5 Prior use
- Section 6 Use of articles on foreign vessels, aircrafts and land vehicles
- Section 7 Acts for obtaining regulatory approval from authorities
- Section 8 Exhaustion of patent rights
- Section 9 Compulsory licensing and/or government use
- Section 10 Exceptions and limitations related to farmers' and/or breeders' use of patented inventions
- Section 11 Other exceptions and limitations
Section 1: General
1. As background for the exceptions and limitations to patents investigated in this questionnaire, what is the legal standard used to determine whether an invention is patentable? If the standard for patentability includes provisions that vary according to the technology involved, please include examples of how the standard has been interpreted, if available. Please indicate the source of law (statutory and-or case law) by providing the relevant provisions and/or a brief summary of the relevant decisions.
A technical solution in any field, relating to a product (in particular, a device, substance, biotechnological product) or process (process of affecting a material subject matter using material means), shall be protected as an invention. An invention shall be granted legal protection if it is new has an inventive step and is industrially applicable (conditions for patentability of invention).
(Article 9 of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs).
Correspondingly, please list exclusions from patentability that exist in your law. Furthermore, please provide the source of those exclusions from patentability if different from the source of the standard of patentability, and provide any available case law or interpretive decisions specific to the exclusions.
(1) The following shall not be subject to legal protection:
(a) scientific discoveries;
(b) scientific theories, mathematical methods, provision of common information;
(c) methods of organization and management of economy;
(d) conventional signs, schedules and rules;
(e) processes for performing mental acts;
(f) algorithms for calculating machines;
(g) projects and plans for constructions, buildings and site developing;
(h) solutions concerning the outward appearance of the product having exclusively aesthetic value;
(i) topographies of integrated microcircuits.
(2) Inventions, the exploitation of which contradicts the public interests, morality, philanthropy principles shall not be subject to legal protection.
(3) The following shall not constitute patentable inventions:
(a) plant and animal varieties, as well as the natural biological processes of their raising;
(b) processes for cloning of human beings;
(c) use of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes;
(d) processes for modifying the genetic identity of human beings;
(e) processes for modifying the genetic identity of animals, as well as animals resulting from such processes.
2. As background for the exceptions and limitations to patents investigated in this questionnaire, what exclusive rights are granted with a patent? Please provide the relevant provision in the statutory or case law. In addition, if publication of a patent application accords exclusive rights to the patent applicant, what are those rights?
Patent on invention or utility model gives the exclusive right to patent owner to use the patented subject matter at his own discretion, if it does not infringe other patent owner’s rights as well as to forbid third parties:
(a) where the subject matter of patent is a product, to prevent third parties without the owner's consent from the acts of making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing for these purposes that product;
(b) where the subject matter of a patent is a process, to prevent third parties not having the owner's consent from the act of using the process, and from the acts of using, importing, offering for sale, selling or putting into civil circulation the product developed directly by that process.
(Paragraph 1 of Article 16 of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
3. Which exceptions and limitations does the applicable law provide in respect to patent rights (please indicate the applicable exceptions/limitations):
Private and/or non-commercial use;
Experimental use and/or scientific research;
Preparation of medicines;
Prior use;
Use of articles on foreign vessels, aircrafts and land vehicles;
Exhaustion of patent rights;
Compulsory licensing and/or government use.
Section 2: Private and/or non-commercial use
4. If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
The use of patented invention, utility model shall not constitute an infringement of the exclusive rights of the patent owner if used:
for personal needs with no purpose to make profit;
(Article 17(1) of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
5.-10.
N.A.
Section 3: Experimental use and/or scientific research
11. If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
The use of patented invention, utility model shall not constitute an infringement of the exclusive rights of the patent owner if used:
(Article 17 (2) of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
12.-22.
N.A.
Section 4: Preparation of medicines
23. If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
The use of patented invention, utility model shall not constitute an infringement of the exclusive rights of the patent owner if used:
for single preparation of medicaments in pharmacies based on physicians’ prescriptions;
(Article 17 (3) of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
24.-26.
N.A.
27. Does the applicable law provide for any limitations on the amount of medicines that can be prepared under the exception?
No.
28.-30.
N.A.
Section 5: Prior use
31. If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
Any person who, before the priority date of an invention, utility model, has used an identical solution created independently of the inventor and has used it bona fide in the territory of the Republic of Armenia or who has made the necessary preparatory works for it, shall retain the right to further non-compensated use, provided that the scope of such use is not extended (right on prior use).
(Paragraph 1 of Article 18 of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
32.-33.
N/A
34. How does the applicable law define the scope of “use”? Does the applicable law provide for any quantitative or qualitative limitations on the application of the “use” by prior user? Please explain your answer by citing legal provision(s) and/or decision(s):
A prior user must provide that the scope of such use is not extended.
(Paragraph 1 of Article 18 of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
35. Does the applicable law provide for a remuneration to be paid to the patentee for the exercise of the exception? Please explain:
No, a prior user retains the right to further non-compensated use.
36. According to the applicable law, can a prior user license or assign his prior user’s right to a third party?
Yes.
37. In case of affirmative answer to question 36, does the applicable law establish conditions on such licensing or assignment for the continued application of the prior use exception?
Yes.
If yes, please explain what those conditions are:
The right on prior use shall be permitted to be transferred to another natural or legal persons only together with the production unit in which the use of the identical solution has taken place or the necessary preparations for such a use have been made.
38. Does this exception apply in situations where a third party has been using the patented invention or has made serious preparations for such use after the invalidation or refusal of the patent, but before the restoration or grant of the patent?
Yes
If yes, please explain the conditions under which such use can continue to apply:
Any person, who starting from the date of lapse of legal protection right in invention or utility model till the date, the information on restoration of rights of validity of patent on invention or utility model is published in Official Bulletin bona fide started to use the protected invention or utility model or made necessary preparatory works, reserve the right to use it free of charge without scope extension of the use (right to later use).
39.-41.
N.A.
Section 6: Use of articles on foreign vessels, aircrafts and land vehicles
42. If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
The use of patented invention, utility model shall not constitute an infringement of the exclusive rights of the patent owner if used:
on any vehicle belonging to another State and being accidentally or temporarily on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, if it is determined exclusively by the needs of the vehicle and the latter belongs to citizens and (or) legal persons of a State providing the same rights to citizens and legal persons of the Republic of Armenia.
(Article 17 (4) of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs).
43.-44.
N/A
45. The exception applies in relation to:
Vessels;
Aircrafts;
Land Vehicles;
Spacecraft.
46. In determining the scope of the exception, does the applicable law apply such terms as ”temporarily” and/or “accidentally” or any other equivalent term in relation to the entry of foreign transportation means into the national territory? Please provide the definitions of those terms by citing legal provision(s) and/or decision(s):
N.A.
47. Does the applicable law provide for any restrictions on the use of the patented product on the body of the foreign vessels, aircrafts, land vehicles and spacecraft for the exception to apply (for example, the devices to be used exclusively for the needs of the vessel, aircraft, land vehicle and/or spacecraft)? Please explain your answer by citing legal provision(s) and/or decision(s):
The use of patented invention, utility model shall not constitute an infringement of the exclusive rights of the patent owner if used:
on any vehicle belonging to another State and being accidentally or temporarily on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, if it is determined exclusively by the needs of the vehicle.
(Article 17 (4) of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
48.-50.
N.A.
Section 7: Acts for obtaining regulatory approval from authorities
51.-59.
[Note from the Secretariat: the applicable law of the Republic of Armenia does not provide exceptions related to acts for obtaining regulatory approval from authorities.]
Section 8: Exhaustion of patent rights
60. Please indicate what type of exhaustion doctrine is applicable in your country in relation to patents:
National
International
If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
(1) The patent owner or the owner of exclusive license has no right to prevent to put into civil circulation in the Republic of Armenia a patented invention or utility model or product, developed by patented process, if this product or article has been legally put on the market in the Republic of Armenia by the patent owner or with his consent.
(2) Import of a patented product including an industrial property subject matter or developed by a patented process into the territory of the Republic of Armenia shall not be deemed as infringement of exclusive rights of the patent owner if it has been legally put on the market in a foreign country by the patent owner or with his consent.
If the exception is provided through case law, please cite the relevant decision(s) and provide its(their) brief summary:
N.A.
61.(a) What are the public policy objectives for adopting the exhaustion regime specified above? Please explain:
(b) Where possible, please explain with references to the legislative history, parliamentary debates and judicial decisions:
N.A.
62. Does the applicable law permit the patentee to introduce restrictions on importation or other distribution of the patented product by means of express notice on the product that can override the exhaustion doctrine adopted in the country?
No.
Please explain your answer by citing legal provision(s) and/or decision(s):
N.A.
63.-64.
N.A.
Section 9: Compulsory licensing and/or government use
Compulsory licenses
65. If the exception is contained in statutory law, please provide the relevant provision(s):
(1) Any person or the Republic of Armenia may, without the consent of the patent owner (rightholder), use the protected invention, utility model or industrial design (compulsory license) by court decision where:
(a) the public interest demands, in particular, national security, nutrition, health or the development of other vital sectors so requires;
(b) it is determined that the owner of the patent or his licensee abuses the patent rights, in particular where the manner of exploitation, contrary to the adopted regulations, restrains competition;
(c) the invention, utility model, industrial design has not been used or has been used unconscientiously during the period of 4 years from filing the application or 3 years from granting patent (certificate) (the later filing date shall be applied).
(2) The court shall grant compulsory licenses with regard to given circumstances and after hearing the rightholder.
(3) Compulsory licenses shall be granted provided that the person filing the request proves that he has made efforts to conclude a license contract with the rightholder on reasonable commercial terms and that such efforts failed to succeed within a reasonable period of time.
(4) Paragraph (3) of this Article shall not apply if a state of war or emergency has been declared.
(Article 69 of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs)
66. If the exception is provided through case law, please cite the relevant decision(s) and provide its(their) brief summary:
N.A.
67. What grounds for the grant of a compulsory license does the applicable law provide in respect to patents (please indicate the applicable grounds):
Non-working or insufficient working of the patented invention;
Refusal to grant licenses on reasonable terms;
Anti-competitive practices and/or unfair competition;
Public health;
National security;
National emergency and/or extreme urgency;
Dependent patents.
68.-70.
N.A.
71. In case of the grant of compulsory licenses on the grounds of non-working or insufficient working, does the applicable law provide for a certain time period to be respected before a compulsory license can be requested?
Yes
If yes, what is the time period?
The applicable law provides for 4 years from the filing date of the application or 3 years from granting of patent (certificate) (the later date will be applied).
72. In case of the grant of compulsory licenses on the grounds of non-working or insufficient working, does the applicable law provide that a compulsory license shall be refused if the patentee justifies his inaction by legitimate reasons?
Yes.
If yes, what are “legitimate reasons”?
The court shall grant compulsory licenses with regard to given circumstances and after hearing the rightholder.
(Paragraph 2 of Article 69 of Law on Inventions, Utility models and Industrial designs).
73.-74.
N.A..
75. If the applicable law provides for the grant of compulsory licenses on the ground of dependent patents, please indicate the conditions that dependent patents must meet for a compulsory license to be granted:
(1) Compulsory licenses shall be granted under the following conditions:
(a) scope and duration shall be limited with regard to their purposes;
(b) they shall be only non-exclusive;
(c) they may not be transferred to third parties, with the exception of the licensee enterprise or business;
(d) they shall be granted primarily for the suffice of the internal market demand.
(2) Where a patent, hereinafter referred to as "the second patent", cannot be exploited without infringing another patent, hereinafter referred to as "the first patent", the following conditions, in addition to paragraph (1) above, for the grant of compulsory license in respect of the first patent it is necessary that:
(a) the invention protected by the second patent shall involve a technical advance of considerable economic significance compared to the invention protected by the first patent;
(b) the owner of the first patent shall, under reasonable conditions, be entitled to a cross-license to use the invention protected by the second patent;
(c) the use authorized in respect of the first patent shall be transferred by the person having the compulsory license only with the simultaneous transfer of the company’s part, where the use of the mentioned subject matter is realized.
76. Does the applicable law provide a general policy to be followed in relation to the remuneration to be paid by the beneficiary of the compulsory license to the patentee? Please explain:
(1) A compulsory license shall be granted to the owners of patents against equitable remuneration.
(2) The amount of the remuneration shall be determined with regard to the circumstances of each case and taking into account the economic significance of such an authorization.
77. If the applicable law provides for the grant of compulsory licenses on the ground of “national emergency” or “circumstances of extreme urgency”, please explain how the applicable law defines those two concepts and their scope of application, and provide examples:
N.A.
78. Please indicate how many times and in which technological areas compulsory licenses have been issued in your country:
Compulsory licenses have not been ever issued in the Republic of Armenia.
79.-80.
N.A.
Government use
81.-88.
[Note from the Secretariat: the applicable law of the Republic of Armenia does not provide exceptions related to government use.]
Section 10: Exceptions and limitations related to farmers' and/or breeders' use of patented inventions
89.-100.
[Note from the Secretariat: the applicable law of the Republic of Armenia does not provide exceptions and limitations related to farmers’ and/or breeders’ use of patented inventions.]
Section 11: Other exceptions and limitations
101.-103.
[Note from the Secretariat: the applicable law of the Republic of Armenia does not provide other exceptions and limitations.]
[End of questionnaire]
September 2011