Patents Laws in Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)
Here’s an overview of Patent Laws in Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France):
📚 Governing Law
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as a French overseas territorial collectivity, follows French intellectual property law.
Patent laws are governed by the French Intellectual Property Code (Code de la Propriété Intellectuelle).
The legal framework is the same as mainland France.
🏛️ Regulatory Authority
National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), France
Website: https://www.inpi.fr
INPI handles patent applications, examinations, grants, and registrations.
🔍 Patentable Inventions
Inventions must be:
Novel
Involve an inventive step
Be industrially applicable
Patentable inventions include:
Products
Processes
Chemical substances
Biotechnological inventions (with some restrictions)
🚫 Non-Patentable Inventions
Exclusions include:
Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods
Aesthetic creations
Methods of medical or surgical treatment
Plant and animal varieties (except microbiological inventions)
Inventions contrary to public order or morality
🕒 Patent Term
Patents last for 20 years from the filing date.
Annual maintenance fees must be paid to keep the patent valid.
📝 Application Procedure
Submit patent application to INPI.
Include detailed description, claims, abstract, and drawings (if necessary).
INPI conducts formal and substantive examination.
Upon approval, the patent is granted and published.
European patents can also be validated in France to cover Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
🌍 International Treaties
France, and by extension Saint Pierre and Miquelon, is a member of:
European Patent Convention (EPC)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Paris Convention
TRIPS Agreement
💵 Fees
Filing fees
Examination fees
Grant fees
Annual renewal fees
✅ Additional Notes
Patents granted by INPI or the European Patent Office are enforceable in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Applicants can use French or European routes to protect inventions in this territory.
The system is well-developed, aligned with EU standards.
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