HSM

Falkland Islands

Registration
A patent can be registered in the Falkland Islands pursuant to the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance, 1930 which provides for applications to extend rights under an existing UK or European Patent (EP (UK)) registration. The application for registration must be made within three years of the grant of the UK or EP (UK) registration.

The following information and documentation is required:

  1. two certified copies of the specifications of the patent (including drawings, if any)
  2. a Certificate of the Comptroller-General of the Intellectual Property Office of the UK (UK IPO) giving full particulars of the issue of the patent; or
  3. a certificate issued by an officer duly authorised under the UK Patent Act, 1977 that the UK has accepted the EP (UK) as being effective in the UK and that the particulars of the application are true
  4. Power of Attorney

It usually takes about two months for the Registrar General for the Falkland Islands at the Town Hall to process an application for registration. Paris Convention priority cannot be claimed. Once the registration is complete the Registrar General will issue a Certificate of Registration.

Patent Cooperation Treaty
The Falkland Islands is not a signatory to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). National phase filing of a PCT patent is not possible.

Searches
It is generally not necessary to conduct a search in the Falkland Islands to ascertain that there will be no difficulty with the application for registration because of the requirement that there be a pre-existing UK or EP (UK) registration. If, however, a search is required, the result can usually be provided within two weeks.

Annual Renewal Fees
Once a patent has been registered in the Falkland Islands there is an annual renewal fee payable to the UK Government each year. For a UK based patent the first fee is due on the fourth anniversary of the filing date of the underlying UK registration. For an EP (UK) based patent the first fee is due on the first anniversary of the grant of the patent.

After the fee has been paid a copy of the Ipsum report from the UK IPO must be sent to the Registrar General evidencing the payment.

Failure to pay an annual renewal fee will cause the registration to lapse. This will effectively prevent any enforcement action being taken.

Expiry
A patent registration is valid for the same period as specified on the underlying UK or EP (UK) on which it is based.

Abandonment
Please inform us as soon as possible if you wish to abandon your patent or allow it to lapse so that we can update our records and advise the Registrar General accordingly. This will avoid us sending out unnecessary Reminder Notices.

Assignment
Please inform us as soon as possible if the patent has been assigned so that we can file an application to record the assignment in the Falkland Islands (and the UK if necessary).

To record the assignment of a patent registration the only documentation required is an affidavit showing that the applicant is the assignee of the patent and a Power of Attorney.

It usually takes about two months or less for the Registrar General to process an application to record an assignment. Once the recording is complete the Registrar General will issue a Certificate of Registration of Assignment.

Change of Particulars
Please inform us as soon as possible if there is any change to the registration so that we can file an application to record the change in the Falkland Islands (and the UK if necessary).

To record a change of name and/or address for a patent registration the only documentation required is a certified copy of the document showing the change and a Power of Attorney.

It usually takes about two months or less for the Registrar General to process an application to record a Change of Particulars. Once the recording is complete the Registrar General will issue a Certificate showing the change.

Contact

E-mail: ip@hsmoffice.com

Tel: +1 (345) 949-4766

 

Mail:

PO Box 31726, Grand Cayman KY1-1207

Cayman Islands

 

Courier:

HSM, 68 Fort Street, George Town

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

MEMBERSHIPS

The firm is a member of INTA, CITMA, AIPLA and IPCA