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Patent Registration

 

Patents are governed in Belize under the BELIZE PATENTS ACT, CHAPTER 253, REVISED EDITION 2000. The Law states that a patent is the exclusive right to make, use, or sell an invention for a specified period of time. It is the legal title granted to protect an invention. An invention is a product or process that provides a new way of doing a particular thing, or provides a new technical solution to a problem.

 

A Patent is an exclusive right granted to a person or corporation who has invented a new invention. The exclusive right is granted to the Patentee to prevent any other person/corporation from using the patented invention during the period the invention is patented for. After the expiry of the duration of the patent anybody can make use of the invention. The invention then becomes part of the public domain.         -

The Belize Patent Act state that a patent may be granted only for an invention which satisfies the following conditions -

 

a)    The invention must be new - it must never have been made public in any way, anywhere in the world, before the date on which the patent application is filed. It must not be known to t he body of existing knowledge (prior art) in its relevant technical field.

 

b)    The invention must involve an inventive step - it must not be obvious to a person with a good knowledge and experience of the subject, when compared with what is already known.

 

c)    The invention must be capable of industrial application - it must be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry.

 

d)   An invention is not patentable if it is -

i)     A discovery;

ii)    A scientific theory or mathematical method;

iii)   An aesthetic creation such as a literary, dramatic or artistic work;

iv)  A scheme or method for performing a mental act, playing a game or doing business;

v)   The presentation of information, or a computer program;

vi)  A method of treatment for the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, as well as diagnostic   methods practiced on the human or animal body;

vii) A new animal or plant variety.

 

An application for Patent must be made in the format prescribed by the Patents Act and the Patent Rules. All applications must be accompanied by a patent specification clearly describing the invention claimed. Specification shall contain: Title, Abstract, Written Description, Drawings (where necessary), Sample or Model, Enablement and Best Mode, Claims and Deposit (Microorganisms).