Georgia is a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This means that a single international application filed through Sakpatenti can extend protection to more than 155 member countries. For applicants seeking coverage in multiple markets, a PCT application allows national phase entries and translation costs to be deferred while preserving the priority date.
Required documents and timeframes
A standard application package for a patent on an invention includes: an application form, a description of the invention, patent claims, an abstract, and drawings where these are needed to understand the subject matter. Documents are filed in Georgian; foreign-language materials require a notarised translation. Official fees depend on the number of claims and the type of protection sought.
The typical timeline for a patent on an invention is 18 to 24 months, which includes substantive examination. Under the current version of the law, a utility model application also undergoes substantive examination, in which Sakpatenti assesses, among other things, the inventive step (Article 71-1). Upon filing, the applicant receives a priority date, which is important when pursuing parallel protection abroad.
What the client receives
Upon registration, the applicant receives a patent or utility model certificate conferring the exclusive right to use the protected subject matter in Georgia. The document allows the holder to prohibit third parties from manufacturing, selling, or importing products that reproduce the protected solution, and to grant licences.
If the invention has already been disclosed
Disclosing an invention before filing usually destroys its novelty. Article 15 of the Patent Law provides a grace period: a disclosure does not affect patentability if it took place no earlier than 6 months before the priority date and falls under the cases listed in the law. Examples include disclosure in bad faith by a third party or display at certain official exhibitions.
So if you have already shown the development publicly, the filing deadline should be calculated from the date of first disclosure. For software, which a patent does not protect, copyright registration is the appropriate route.
Frequently asked questions
Who can file a patent application in Georgia?
The applicant can be an individual or a legal entity, Georgian or foreign. Foreign applicants without a residence or registered office in Georgia are required to act through an accredited patent attorney.
Can software be patented in Georgia?
The Patent Law of Georgia does not treat algorithms and computer programs as inventions (Article 16). The program itself is protected by copyright, while a technical solution implemented by software that produces a specific technical result is worth assessing separately before filing.
What happens if a similar invention has already been patented?
Before filing, we conduct a prior art search across Sakpatenti databases and international sources including Espacenet and the PCT database. If a conflicting document is found, we analyse its claims and, where necessary, adjust the application to work around existing protection.
Does a Georgian patent protect abroad?
No. A patent granted by Sakpatenti is valid only in Georgia. For international protection, applicants can use the PCT route or file directly with the patent offices of the relevant countries.
What happens when the patent expires?
After 20 years for an invention (or 10 years for a utility model), the subject matter enters the public domain and may be freely used by anyone. Georgian law does not provide for extension of the patent term for inventions.
How long does a patent last in Georgia?
An invention patent is valid for 20 years from the date of filing with Sakpatenti, and a utility model is protected for 10 years from filing. When the term ends, the subject matter passes into the public domain.
Does a utility model need an inventive step?
Yes. Under the current version of the Patent Law, a utility model must meet the criteria of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability, and the application goes through substantive examination (Article 71-1).
Can I file after showing the invention at an exhibition?
In limited cases. Article 15 of the Patent Law does not treat a disclosure as an obstacle if it took place no earlier than 6 months before the priority date and falls under the cases listed in the law, such as display at certain official exhibitions.