New resolution to reduce the backlog of pending patent applications
The Argentine Patent Office has issued Resolution No. 178/08 requiring patent applicants claiming priority under the Paris Convention that were filed before January 1, 2008, to inform whether the priority application has been granted or not in the country of origin.
The period is to last until October 30, 2008 and it has been set forth that no extension of time for informing the Argentine PTO will be available.
Those applicants not filing the required information will have their applications considered abandoned.
The purpose of this Resolution is reducing the backlog of patent applications pending of substantive examination through the clearance of those applications that are not longer of interest for their applicants. This mechanism is very similar to the one used in 2004 through Resolution P-372.
Nevertheless, it should be noted� that nothing related to the status of the claimed priory, no matter whether it has been granted or not, is to have effect� in� the further� prosecution of the local application.
