PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Sweden

Sweden is in Northern Europe and has about 10 million people. It's the third-largest country in the European Union. Sweden's economy is the seventh richest globally. The Swedish Patent and Registration Office is vital for patents, acting as the International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority. Sweden's patent system is known for its quick processing.

To support the Swedish government's goal of increasing patent filings, GPF is here to provide a one-stop solution for all patent filing needs. GPF helps efficiently and promptly file patent applications with accurate translations.

The progression of four distinct patent laws in Sweden is traced, starting from the initial Swedish law of privilegia exclusiva in 1819. This historical journey unfolds until Sweden achieved the notable status of being only the third country globally to incorporate novelty searches into its patent law in 1884.

Sweden officially joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) as a Contracting Party on May 17, 1978.

The major requirements and procedure to file a patent application in Sweden are mentioned below:

The designated period for submitting a patent application in Sweden under the framework of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is 31 months from the earliest date of priority.

In Sweden, the official language for filing patent application is Swedish or English. If the international application is in a different official language, providing a translation into Swedish or English is mandatory. This ensures accuracy and regulatory compliance, which make a seamless and trouble-free progression through the patenting procedures.

While the deadline for the late national phase entry of a patent application remains non-extendable, there is a provision for submitting the translation within a window of two months after entering the Swedish PCT national phase.

The essential documents required for filing a national phase application include:

• Power of Attorney
• Translation

No exemptions in cost are granted for the patent application upon entering the national phase.

The substantive examination of Swedish patent applications happens automatically, and there is no need to file a specific request.

Patent Prosecution Highway Program under the PCT

The National Directorate of Industrial Property (DNPI) of Uruguay and the Intellectual Property Office (PRV) of Sweden have formalized an agreement by signing a memorandum of understanding. This agreement aims to initiate a pilot program for the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) and is set to span a period of three years.

The PPH cooperation fosters collaboration among IP offices, establishing a multilateral work-sharing arrangement. This collaboration is designed to expedite the response time from these entities, effectively minimizing redundant efforts, time, and processing costs associated with the examination of the same patent application.

This expedited process enhances efficiency and expedites the examination and approval of patents.Several agreements have been made between patent offices to encourage collaboration. These agreements allow patent applicants to ask for quicker processing in the national phase. This means that patent examiners can use work done by other participating offices. The work products may include:

• The written opinion from the International Searching Authority,
• The written opinion from the International Preliminary Examining Authority, or
• The international preliminary examination report under the PCT, given certain conditions are met.

Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV) has PCT-PPH agreements with: 

Brazil: National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) (Brazil)National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) 

CHINA: China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

This office additionally employs an accelerated examination procedure for PCT applications under the PCT-PPH program, utilizing work products generated by the office.

Renewal fees for the initial three years of the patent are expected to be settled on the last day of the months encompassing the second anniversary of the international filing date. It is imperative to make these payments upon entering the national phase. Subsequently, for each subsequent year, the renewal fees must be settled before the conclusion of the month that includes the anniversary of the international filing date.

Patents in Sweden remain valid for a duration of 20 years from the filing date. In Sweden, there's a thing called supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). They help extend the protection of patents for medicines and plant protection products. This extension is to cover the time it takes to get regulatory approval for the product, and it usually lasts up to a maximum of five years.

Sweden is prominently positioned at 3rd place among the 132 economies featured in the GII 2022. The Global Innovation Index (GII) meticulously evaluates the innovation capabilities of nations, employing an extensive set of around 80 indicators that are further categorized into innovation inputs and outputs. The overarching objective of the GII is to intricately capture the multifaceted aspects of innovation on a global scale.

This nation holds the 12th position globally in total patent applications and is 10th for abroad applications, showcasing a strong commitment to innovation. It also ranks 10th in PCT National Phase Entries, emphasizing its active role in the global intellectual property landscape.