WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE IP/N/I/AUT/P/2 
18 April 1996 
ORGANIZACION MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights (96-1439) 
Original: Englishl 
anglaisl 
ingles 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
Austria 
The present document reproduces the text of the Act Introducing Patent Treaties 19781, as 
amended, as notified by Austria under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IP/NllIAUT/l). 
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriete 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET REGLEMENTATIONS CONSACREES A LA 
PROPRIETE INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIEES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
Autriche 
Le present document contient Ie texte de Ia Loi de 1978 concernant les traites en matiere de 
brevets 1 , notifiee par l' Autriche au titre de I'article 63:2 de l' Accord (voir Ie document IP/N/ll AUT 11). 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL pARRAFO 2 DEL ARTICULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
Austria 
En el presente documento se reproduce el texto de la Ley de Incorporaci6n de los Tratados 
sobre Patentes de 19781, Y sus modificaciones, notificado por Austria en virtud del parrafo 2 del 
articulo 63 del Acuerdo (vease el documento IP/NllIAUT/l). 
'English only/anglais seulement/en ingles solamente. IP IN 11/ A UT IP/2 
Page 2 
f\C/T' IN"fl{ODUCING PA'T'EN"r "rREATIES 1978 
(Fcd('J'lIl .. \('1 Oil lite Inll'odlfClioll (~r Illc' 1:'IfI'()I'(,({1l 1)({lc'lI/ COIlI'ell/ioll lIlId /lte 
1)({le'lI/ CO(lIJe'J'lIliOIl "li'('lI/." 
as HI11Cndcd I) I:'/-'ltV ITI () !V,)' 
I. For the purposes or this Federal Act: IP/NI 11 A UT IP/2 
Page 3 
I, "EPC" 111eans the Convention 011 the Cjrant of European Patents (European 
Patent COl1vention) signed at rvlunich on ()ctober 5. 1<)73: 
") "Protocol on Centralisation" 1l1eanS the Protocol on the Centralisation 
oj" till' European Patent Syslelll and on its Introducti()ll. \\'hich is an 
illlL'gr~d part or the EPC under Article 164 thereof: 
3, "peT" Illcans the Patcnt Coopcration Treaty done at \Vashington on 
.J lIll l' I 9. I <) 7 () : 
-I.. "I ~lIr()Peall p~ltL' 11 t appl icat ion" J11ei.tns lIn appl icat ion ri led under the EPe 
in \\'hich the Repuhlic or Austria is designated as Contracting State. and 
al'l'ording to \\'Ilich protection is therefore sought in that State for the 
iJ1\'eIHiOJ1: 
). .. Ell r () p e ~ III pat e n t" n 1 e II n sap ate 11 t grail t c d u J1 d e r the E P (' fo r the 
R l'l ) II hi i L' or i\ 1I S I ria liS d L' s i !.! Il ~ I ted CO III r ~ I L' 1 ill!.! S tat L' : 
~ ~ 
(), "internatio!1,11 application" ll1eanS an application filed under the PCT in 
\\'Ilich the Repuhlic or Austria is desigll~lll'd (IS C{)lllr~lelillg Stall'. and 
~IL'L'Pl'lljl1~ to \\'/1iell proiL'elioll is tilcrL'fllrl' soughl ill that SlatL' for thL' 
il1\'L'IHioll Oil the basis or the said international application: 
7, "PlltClllS Act" 111eans the Patents t\ct (P(/lel1lgeSl!/~) of 1970. published 
in the F~deral Law Gazette No. 25<)/1970. as anlcndcd, 
1. Patent applications under the EPe Inay be filed \vith the f\uslrian Patent 
()Ilice in addition to the offices specified in Article 75 (I) (a) of the EPe. in 
one or the official languages under Article 14 of the EPe, provided that at 
IC\lst the particulars specified in Article XO (a) to (c) or the EPe are in 
Gernlan, English or French. Applicatiolls that do not Ineet these requirelnents 
sh~11I be dCCll1cd not to have been fi led. 
1'lIhlic'(/liOIl lIlId /.lIying ()IN'II .IfJl' I>lthlic II/SIN/('lion: 
/J{/(}fllI({lioll (~J' llie Plthlic 
J. (I) European patent applications published under Article 93 of the EPC 
shall bc laid opcn for public inspection by the Austrian Patent Office. together 
wi th thc translation fi led for that purpose (Section 4 (2»). unti I such ti me as 
a Europc~\Il patcnt is granted or the European patcnt application is rejected IP IN 11/ A UT IP 12 
Page 4 
or \vithdn\\\'n. Notice of such actioll Sh~l" hc pUhlished in the Austrian Patcnt 
Gazettc ((]s/e}"}"l'ichischl's P(//l'lllh/(//I), togclhl'l' \vilh a 111el1tioll of the 
language in \\'hich the European patent application is \\'rillcll, Sectioll I () ( I ) 
and (3) or the Patents Act shall apply III1I/Ulis IIf1f1unt/is. 
(2) The European Patent CJa/elle. published European p~ltent applic~l!i()l1s 
and European patent specifications shall be laid open for public inspcction 
at thc Austrian Patent ()ITicc. 
(3) Registers shall bc kcpt or l:uropci.ln pi.llel1t applicatiulls and European 
patenls which shall provide the public \\'ith rapid and reli~lhk illr()rI11~ltion 
concerning tilc protccli\',_, rights COllCl'l'lll'tl. 
Rig/liS IJl'ri"ing .Ii'01l1 lite FIIJ"O/J('lf/J 1)(11('11/ /\/'IJ/ic({lio/l ([/il'" IJ{{hli( '({lioll: 
'li'UIlS/Uf iOIl 
4. (I) The European pi.ltetlt i.lpplicalioll Slll"l gt\'c the ~lpplicaJlt. ~IS 1'1'0111 
the datc or publication under Article 93 or the EPC. i.\ pro\'isional l'bill1 to 
cOl1lpcnsation apprOprii.ltc to the CirCUt11stanccs fro III any person \\'/10 has 
unlawfully !nade use or the suhject l11allcJ' or the applic~\tiol1 (Patents Acl. 
Section 22 (I)). Thc European application sh~t11 n()t henefit 1'1'0111 protl'L'tiol1 
LInder ArLicle 64 or the EPC. 
(2) Where the European patent application has not heen published ill (JCI'I11;II1. 
(he clair11 under paragraph (I) shall exist only as fr0t11 the date on whiL'1l ~I 
translation or the patent CiailllS in Gertl1~ln. sl1hll1illed by the applicant. h~IS 
been puhlished hy the Austrian Patent Of rice ill accordance "'UIolis IIllt/({/{(lis 
\vith the provisions of Section :1 ( I ) and after paynlent of the puhlication fee 
(Section 22); or has bcen conltl1unicated by the Austrian Patcnt ()llice to the 
user or the subject 111aller of the application. 
5. (I) Where the European patent speci rication is not issued in Gertl1an. a 
Gertn:.tn translation or the patent shall be filed with the Austrian Patcnt ()frice 
\vi th in th ree l110n ths at (he I ates ( after pu b I icat i on () f (he l11cnt ion 0 r gran t or 
the European 'Patent in the European Patent Ga/ette. and a publication fee 
(Seclion 22) shall be paid. The Austrian Patent Orficl' shall puhlish till' translation 
in printed 1'0n11. 
(2) Suhscction (I) shall apll)' 1IIIIIulis 1J11I/ul1i1is to thl' suhlllilling or the 
translation or the ElIr()pL'~11l p~ltl'nt specification ~IS ~lInended hy ~I decisiol1 or 
thL' ()ppOSilioll Division (EPC. Article 102 (3». 
(J) Ir the pcriod (subscctions I and 2) for filing the required trallsl~lti()n 
and ror the payrllcnt or the (luhlicalion fee is not cOlllplicd with. il' a 
puhlication fec \vhich \vas paid only in part is not cOlllplctely paid \villlin rhe IP INIV AUT IP/2 
Page 5 
P l' r i () d "l'l I'll r s u c h L' 0 III P Ie t epa y 111 e Ill. i r the pi. \ Y III e III II r the P 1I h I i cat ion re e 
is not dlll y pro\'cd ( Sec, 169 Patents Act) or i r othel" ronnal defects are not 
reillcdkd. tilc Europcan patent shall he d~L'Illed never to have had efrect o/J 
inifio. 
;\[{I/tl'lllic \~)rsi(J1l {~r ({ 1:"/fro/)('(111 /'01('111 
.. \ I ) / ) I i C 0/ i 0 11 011 d (~r (/ t,: II /'0/ )(' (/11 Pol ('II! : 
CorrC'c/ion (~r 111(' Ji'({I1S/({lioll 
6. (I) \Vhl're ~\ (,L'rlllan tr~\nslatioll is required under Section 4 or 5. the 
SI.:Olk' 01' pro\L'ctioll or thL' European p~tlL'llt ~lpplicalj()n or European patent 
,,1t~t11 hL' dctL'rtllilll'd hy that translation insor~lr as the scope or protection 
reslIltjl1~ 1'1'0111 thc lr~\nslalion is narrO\\'Cl" th~ln the scope or protection in the 
1~IIl~lIa~l' of '-ilL' pnlL'cL'dings, This shall nol i.lpply. ho\ve\'er. to proceedings 
for I"l' ,'ocal i ()Il or fori'e i lure 0 r l he pi.ltelll. 
(2) Thl' appl icanl ror or O\\'l1er or a European patent Inay request correction 
or till' translation. The corrcction shall be ellective on the date 011 which it 
is puhlished hy the .:\ustri"l1 Patent ()ITice after paynlcllt or the publication 
fcc (Sel't ion 22). 
(-,) Thl' correction shall he puhlished by -display in the display hall of the 
;\ustrian Patent Officc (Section 3 (I)) in the case of patent applications, and 
by till' i SSlll' of a pri 11 tin the casc of paten ts. 
(-+) ;\ noticc or the correction shall be published in the Austrian Patent 
Gazcttc. 
(:)) \Vhl'f'e a person appeals against the narrower scope of protection of 
the Gerlnan translation of a published patent application, the correction shall 
~dso be errecti ve against the appellant when the applicant has cOlnlnunicated 
the corrcctcd GCrtllan translation to hinl. 
(6) The correction shaH not be effective against a person who, before it 
bl'canlC clTective. had, in good faith. started to lISC the subject Blatter of the 
Europcan patent application or European patent in Austria, or had Inade the 
necessary arrangenlents for SLich Lise (interilTI L1ser). The rights of the interim 
lIscr shall he detcnllincd by application, IIlLI/alis 111111(llldis, of the provisions 
or Seclion 2~ (2) to (4) of the Patents Act. Where a license agreelnent the 
scopc or \vhich extends to the protected subject Illatter affected by the correction 
h~IS been cOllcluded prior to the correctioll, and where the right or the licensee 
is ad\,L'rsely ~llTectcd by the correction. the liccnsee Inay dClnand a reduction 
appropri~llc to the CirCllll1stanccs in the reilluncralion undcr thc license agreell1Cnt, 
or Inay \vithdnl\v rr0l11 the license agreement where the adverse effect is slIch 
that he has no further interest in its irnplelnentation. IP IN 11 I A UT IP/2 
Page 6 
Pi 1/ £'/1 I R ('g isle'" 
7. Entries relating to Europ(.;an pat(';l1ts shall be recorded in a special part 
of the Patent Register (Patents Act. Section HO) and shall ha\\~ the S~lInl' effect L-
as entries in other parts or the Register. 
A 111111(( I F(!('s P llyU hI (' I () I Ii (' /\ lIsl ri([ 11 p([ 1 ('111 (!/li c(' 
8. (I) Annual fees shall be paid to the Austrian Patent Orfice in respect of 
European patcllts for ,III years roll<)\ving that spl'ciried in ':\rtil'k S() (-0 of 
the EPC. 
(2) The i.llllount or the annual fees payable to thl' Austrian Patent ()Ilice 
under subsection (I) shall be dctel'll1ined pursuant to Section 1()6 (~) or thl' 
Patents Act. subject. 11<)\\"c\'('r. to the 1'01 \()\\'i ng nhKli ficat ions: 
I. for the third year or the tCrill of the European patcnt the San1l' annual 
rce as for the first ycar shall be payable. not taking into account the fees 
for additional pages of the description and additional sheets or drawings: 
.., for the fourth to t\\'entieth ye,lrs or the terll1 of the European patcnt the 
saine ,lnl1l1~tI fecs sll~t11 he p,lid as ror the sl'cond to l'i~hll'l'lltll Yl'ars, 
( ~) A Illlll a I i'l' e s l'o r l', Il'l1 l' 0 III i 11 g Y l' a r s h ,II I ra II d lIl' () 11 t h l' I a sId ~ I Y () I' till' 
IlHHlth having the S~\Il1l' nall1L' ~IS the .IHOIUh or thl' applicatioll d~lll', 
(4) Annual fees n1ay be paid not earlier than three 1110nths prior to their 
due date. 'T'hc rirst allllllal fee to he paid to the Austrian P~ltenl ()I'i'icl' shall 
be paid within one year or falling due. ~ll1d subsequcnt anlHI~d fees within six 
III 0 nth s () r fa II i n g due. 
(5) For pay l11ent a fter the d lIC da tc. a 2 (VI( su rchargc shall be paid i 11 
addition to the annual fcc. This surcharge shall not he payahle in rCspl'ct or 
the first annual fee to be paid to the Austrian Patent Office when it is paid 
\vithin three Inonths of falling duc. 
(0) Annual fees Inay hc paid by any person having an interest in the patent. 
(7) Annual fees that ~lre not yet due shall be rcfunded to the payer when 
the patent is renounced or lapscs for other rcasons before the said annual fees 
f~t11 d lie. 
Reqlfcsl./()J' C'OI1\'('/,SiOIl 
9. (I) At the request or the applicant ror a European p'ltl'nl. the Austrian 
Patent ()fficc shall initiate the pnK'cdure for the grant of 1I pall'llt \-vhen the 
Europcan patent application is dccll1ed withdra\\'n under Article (77 ()) or 
162 (4) of the EPC. 
(2) Where the request for conversion has been forwarded to the Austrian 
Patent Office. or has bcen filed at the Austrian Patent Orfice ir it \vas to hl' IP IN 11/ A UT IPI2 
Page 7 
rikd lilel"e at the outset. the applicant shall he called upon hy preliminary 
dl'l'isioll (PalL'llts ;\ct. Section lJlJ) to do the i"ollo\ving \vithin three InofHhs: 
(a) pay the application fee (Patents ACL Section 166 (I»; 
(h) where applicable. file a Gernlan translation of the European patent 
application as originally filed and also. \vhere applicable. of an amended 
version on \vhich the applicant wishes to have the granting procedure 
before the Austrian Patent Office based. 
(3) For patent applications converted in the Inanner prescribed, the filing 
dale of the European patent application shall be regarded as the filing date 
tlndcr Sl'ctioll X7 (2) or the Patents Act. 
(4) Anllual fces under Section 166 or the Patents Act shall be paid for lhe 
patent granted on the basis of the converted patent application. 
G rounds for R ('\ lOCO t iOIl 
10. (I) European patents lTIay be revoked on the grounds specified in 
ArliclL' 13X (I Ha) to (d) or the Ere including Section 4X (I )4. Patents Act 
~lIld IHay hl' forfLill'd Oil the ground specified ill Article I]X (I He) of the EPC. 
(2) Insofar ~1I1d as long as a reservation ill respect or Austria under Article 
1()7 (2)(,1) or the EPe is effective. European patents Inay be revoked insofar 
~IS they alford protection to chclnical cOlnpounds as such or to foodstuffs for 
h 1I1lW 11 hei ngs or pilanllaceut ical products as such, except \vherc the patcnt 
relates to a process for the 111anufacture or use of a chelnical COIllpound or a 
process ror the 111anufacture of a foodstuff for hunlan beings or pharmaceutical 
products, 
(J) The European patent Inay also be rcvoked when it is found that the 
invention is the subject of an earlier Austrian patent. 
~)·II.\'pensi()1l of Oppositio/l Procedure 
11. (Constitutional provision) Proceedings before the Austrian Patent Office 
for the revocation of a European patent shall be suspended ex officio where 
all opposition procedure (EPe. Article 99) relating to the saIne subject IlUltter 
is pending or brought bcfore thc European Patent Of rice. The suspended 
proceedings shall be resulllcd on request after the opposition procedure has 
bel'n tenninated by a decision having the force of res judicata when no 
decisioll 011 the Inatler at issue has been rendered hy the European Patent 
Office, Otherwise the proceedings shall be discontinued on request or ex 
ujJicio. IPIN 111 A UT IP/2 
Page 8 
12. \Vhere the proseclItion or ,111 illrringcll1ent i.lctiUI1 undeJ' Sel,tiull 15() (~) 
or thc Patents Act has been sllspended the defendantll1ay. instcad of SUhlllitling 
proof that he has filed a revocation clailll \\'ith the Austrii.ln Patenl ()Ilicl'. or 
that re\'ocation proceedings are aln:ady pending betwecn tilL' panil's. OJ' 111;11 
he Illis alrcady joined in sllch proceedings liS an illten'elling p~IJ'ly. -..Uhlllil 
proof that Ill' has filed opposition to the Euro/1ellll patellt with the EUJ'Opl'i.111 
Patent Office (EPe. Article (9) or is other\vise party to all Opposilion 
procedure concerning the E,uropean patent that is aln:i.ldy pending het\\'l'el1 
the parties to the dispute, 
C'olll/J/elllL'Il/{/ry Se(/rch hy lit£' ,.\ustri({11 PUlt1l1 (~!li('(' 
13. (I) Any person Inay rile a rcquest with the Austrian Patent ()lliL'C for 
the 1l1aking or a conlrlel111~ntary sei.lrch in relation to allY publi ..... hed Europei.1I1 
patent application or European patent. The search shall co\'er sllch Austrian 
patent specifici.ltions as al\' not included in lhc search fill' or tilL' Eun>IK'an 
Palenl ()Ilice and shall identify p~ltellis issued by the Austrian Patellt ()Ilicc 
that have ~In carlier applic~lli(}n d~lte than the ElirOpei.ln,p~ltl'nt i.lpplicltioll OJ' 
Eu ropean pate 11 1. 
(~) The carrying out PI" a cOlllpklll~'lltaI'Y SL'i.ll'ch sh~t11 hl' rl'cordl'd ill the 
Patent Register. Ally person Ill~ly illSPl'l'{ till' se~lrcll report. 
(3) The rcq lIesl for t he issue 0 r a search report shall be s 1I hjel'l t () a rCe in 
the saine anlount as the applic(ltion fee (Sec. 166 (1) P~IlCllts, I,\ct). P~IYlnenl 
or the fee shall he duly pro\'L'd (Scc. 169 Patents Act). 
7;0(//1.\'lIlil1(// (~f' I:~lll'(}/}(,(/ll P(/!ell! ;\/J/J/ic{lliol1s !o the Austri(/Il ell/CIl! (!!li'c(' 
./;) r P }'()('('ssill g 
14. (Constitutional provision) Agreclnellts cOllcerning the processing or 
European patent applic~ltions by the Austrian Patent Office that arc cOl1clu(iL'd 
under Section IV (I) ~lIH.l (2) or the Protocol on Centrnlisation betwcen till' 
President of the European Patent Office and the Federal MinisterofCol11111crce. 
Trade and Industry Inay specify. ltlllong other things. the nature. origin and 
numher of' European patent applications to be processed. the pcriod ror tr~lJlsll1iltal. 
the procedure for calculation of the costs to he refunded to the i\lIstri~l!l Patent 
OfficL: ror the processing or European IXltent applications ~lIld thc oblig,ltioll 
on the Austrian Patent ()Ilice to ,\(.Ihere to the guidelines or the European 
Patent Orrice for European searches ,11lc! exalllinatiolls. 1.(' II (' rs U ogo lory IP INI 11 AUT IP/2 
Page 9 
l-ta. (I) Thc ,\ustri,tll P~ltl'llt ()Iril'l' sll~11I ~1l'l'l'P{ {Ill' letters rogatory of tl1l~ 
l:ul'opl'an P~ltenl ()Ilicl' (Art. I J I (2) EPC). The letters rogatory shall be 
all,\\\'erl't! hy thl' 1l1cIllher of the Leg~t1 l)i\'isiol1 responsihle LInder (he schedule 
l) r rl'Srh )J)si hi 1 it il'S \\' i t h t he ass i sf;\ nl'l' or t hl' Ie~:\ II Y q lIa Ii ried 1l1L'J n hl'J' rcspoJ)si hk 
,"or till' 1\'\ IK'l'l i \"l' tcc hili l·~tI fi l' Ill. 
(2) The L;I\\' un the SL'alc nl' FL'CS. I:L'llcr~lI L~I\\, (..J~I/.l'lle No. 136. as 
~1111l' IH,kd slla II ,tPp I y. 
II. /\PIJ/)CA{I(hV.<'; LhV!)!:"R THI:' PCT 
15. (I) The Austrian Palent Office shall be a RCCc,:-i\'jng ()Ilice w'ithin the 
111e~lfling. or Article 10 or the PCT for applicants \\-'ho are Austrian citizens or 
1l~1\'L' lill'ir resitknL'c (hC~ldqll~lrtL'rs) in thL' Rl'puhlil' or Auslria. Applications 
\hall be riled ill (sCrtllan. The priority or applications under the Pat~nts Act 
Inav ~II.~() he claillll'd. . 
(2) (:ur L'\'l'ry application 1I111iL'r SuhSl'l'liUI1 I ~I lranslnitlal fL'(' in lh~ S,1111L' 
:IIlI<HIIlI ~IS 11Il' :lpplic41lioll fl'c (SL'l'. I ()() ( I) P;IlL'llls Act) shall hc paid nut 
Llll'l' th~\1l Pil till' riling tI~ltl'. PaYl11l'I1t ur the I'Cl' sil,tli hL' duly pruvcLl ISL'l'. 
I ()l) Pc.tll'lllS Act). 
16. (I) The Austrian Patent Onice shall be a Designated Onic~ for international 
41ppliclltions cxccpt \vhcre thc applicant has applied for the grant of a 
European patenl. 
(2) \Vhcrc the Austrian Patent Office is the I)esignated ()ffice. the applicant 
shall rik i.\ copy of the international application \vithin the period set therefor 
in peT Art. 22 unless it has heen transl11itted under peT An. 20 and. if the 
Austrian Patent ()ITice is not also the Receiving ()ITice. pay (} fee in the Sal11C 
,llllounl as the application fcc (Patents Act. Section 166 (I )). Where the 
application is nul in Gcrnli.lll. H Gerlllan translation shall he filed within the 
saIne period. 
(3) ;\ decision Oil the further processing or an inlcrl1~l(ional applicatioll 
unllL'r Article 2) (2}(a) or the PCT shall he laken by lhe Austrian Patent 
()rricl' ol1ly if a fce in the saIne ~lI11()lIllt (IS the application fcc (Patents Act. 
SCl,tioll 166 ( I)) is paid. ~lnd where applicable a U~nl1an translation of the 
international application is filed. in due tinlc. IP/N/1/AUT/P/2 
Page 10 
(4) If the lilHely paylnellt o/" /"ees under subsections (2) and (.1) has not 
been duly proved (Sec. 160 Patents Act). an additional til1H,~ linl;l or two 
I1lonths shall he set. 
l:'Iec/et/ ()lIlc!' 
17. (I) Where. under ;\rtick 31 (-+)(a) or the peT. the Rl'PlIhlil' or Austria 
is n:.tllled in the international applications as the Contracting Slall' in \vhich 
the applicant intends to usc the results urthe international prelin1ilwl)' exall1inatiol1. 
and provided he has not appl ied ror the grant or a Eurorcan patent. the 
Austrian P~ltel1t ()Ilice shall he the Ekcted ()ITice (peT. Article .2 (xi\'). ~ll1d 
subsections (:2) and (3) shall ~Ipply. 
(2) \Vhcrc the clectioJl is IHadc herore cxpiry or the nilletl'l'lllil Illol11h rrolll 
the priority dale. the Period untier peT. An. 3l) ( 1 Ha) shall he dccisi\'l' for 
the actions referrl'd to ill Section Ie) (2). This shall not apply. hO\\'l'\'l'r. whell 
the applicant intends to avail hilllseir o/" thl' provis'ions PI" Article 37 (-+)(b) 
or the PCT. 
C~) Exanlination reports that are not established in Gennan. English or 
French shall he translated into Gennan according to Article 36 (2) or the PCT, 
III/crIlOlioll(/! .)'('(//"{·/'ljllg AlIlliorjl.'" (lnd 
Infern(//jullo! I)re!illlillllry 1:\ulJlilling /'II/lioril.\' 
IS. (I) (Constilutioll~tI provision) The cOllsent to thl' ~lppoinllllL'l1t or the 
Austrian Patent Office as International Searching Authority (peT. Articic 16 
(3)(h) or as International PreliJllinary EX~lInining Authority (peT. Article 32 
(3)) shall be issued by the Federal f\1inister of COlnnlcrce. Trade ~lnd Industry. 
(2) After the entry into force for the Republic of Austria of the EPe the 
Federal Minister of COlnlncrce. Trade and Industry Inay issue his consent 
insofar as the conditions set forth in paragraph (3) or in the Protocol on 
Central isation are Inel. 
(3) (Constitutional provision) The Austrian Patent Orfice Inay. hy virtue 
of an agreclllcnt hetween the President or the European Patent ()ITice and the 
Federal Minister of COllllllerce. Trade and Industry. be entrusted \vith the 
independent carrying out of international searches and international prelinlinary 
eXHll1inations under the PCT on behalf or developing c()lllllries. 
(4) (Constitutional provision) The agreelnents bct\veen the Director (Jeneral 
of the \Vorld Intellectual Property Organization and the Federal Minister or 
COlllll1Crce. Trade and Industry (PCT. Articles 16 (3)(h) and 32 (3)) shall 
specify-the ri~lJts and ohligations or the J>~lrties in the clrrying out or thl' 
international setlrch and internatiollal prclilllil1ary exaillinalioll. alld ill particular 
the ('orlnalundertaking to apply anu ohscrvc the C0111111011 ruks uf illlcrl1alioll~tI 
search and international prelitninary exanlination. 111/ (' r/1 {/ / i Oil {/ I SCli 1'('11 Fe(' (/11 d IP IN 111 A UT IP/2 
Page 11 
1111 (' 1'1/0 I i nllo I P r(' /ill I ; /10 r\' I:\{ IJ 11 ill 0 I ion Fec 
I <J. (I) The k'l' for international search and for all other tasks entrusted 
In Il1lL'rllatillJ1~d Se~lrchingAuthorities by the PCTand the Regulations thereunder 
(''-l'~lrl'h fel"') sh~tli he in the s~lIne ~lnlounl ~IS the I'el' for the request ror the 
l'~I(T~ ill~ out l)r ~l sl'~lrcl1 ullder Sl'l,tion )7~1( I) or till' (>~lteJ)ls Act. 
(~) \Vhere till' illtL~rn~ltional applic~ltiull dOL's not 11lel'( the requirCll1ellt or 
unity or ill\'cntioll (peT. Article 3(4)(iii)). the international search report shall 
h l' 111 ~ Ide 1'0 r tile p ~ I rl s () f the i n t e r 11 ~ It i () n ,II a p p I i cat i 011 t hat rei ate t () the 
ill\'l'l1tiol1 first 1l1l'I1tioned ill the clail11s. For ~llly further invention or group 
ur il1\'ellliolls tl1,11 are interconnected in such a \Vi.IY as to constitute a single 
~l'IlL'ral ill\'L'nti\'e idea, al1 ,lddition,t1 ree in till? saine ,111101111t as the search 
rl~ l' '-h ~ til 11L' pay a hie. 
L~) \VilL'rL' ,Ill iI1LL'rn~lti()ll,tI application clailll'-the priority or an earlier 
illtl'rllatiollal application \vhich has been sL'arched by the Austrian Patent 
()Ilil'e as Illtl'rllatiollal Searching Authurity, 75<;( of the search fee paid shall 
he refunded \\'hen the first search report c~ln be llsed entirely or to an essential 
c.\tL'nt in the Illaking of the international search report. The saine shall apply 
\\'here reference is tllade in the internation~t1 application to an earlier international­
type ~l',lrl'h (peT, Article 15 (5)). and \\'here the international-type search can 
IK' lIsl'd entirely or to an essential c.\tl'nt in tile 11l~lking or the internati()n~d 
"l'~\rL'h rl'pori. 
(-4) Thl' rce ror interl1atioll~t1 prelilllill~\r)' l'.\alllination lind all other tasks 
l..'lllrusted to illll'rllational Prelilllini.lry EXlIlllining Authorities by the peT and 
till' Regulations thereunder ("prelilllini.lry exaillination fec") shall be in the 
sa 11K' alllOUl1t as the fce for the request ror the l1laking or an expert opinion 
llIH.k'r Section 57a (.2) or the Patents Act \vhen the state of the art is COnl1l1Unicatecl 
by the ttpplicant. The fcc shall be payahle ~ll lhe sanle tinle ~!s the handling 
i'ee to be paid to the International Bureau or the World Intellectual Property 
()rgan il.at ion. 
(5) \Vhere the Austrian Patent Office finds that the international application 
does not }neet the requirelnent or unity of invention and calls upon the 
a p p I i c a nl to I i 111 itt h C' c I a i III S 0 r pay add i t ion a I fe e s , the am 0 U n t 0 f the 
additional fees and the grounds therefor shall he stated. Where the applicant 
lilllits his claitns to a unified ill\'C'ntiol1 or group or inventions. an additional 
i'l'e in the sallle ~\I11ollnt as the ree ror prelilllinary cxanlinatioll shall he paid 
rl)l' e~lc h "dd i 1 i ona I ill veil t i on or grou p 0 f i 11 vc Il t ions lhat arc in tercollnccted 
ill sllch a \vay ~IS to constitute a single general inventive idea. 
(()) PaYIllL'llt ur feL's 1I11<.k'r sllhsL'ct ions I to 5 shall flot 11L' dl'l'1l1L'd to havl' 
IK'l'1l Illlllk lIntil it 1l~ls Ik'l'll duly provL'd (SL'L'. I()t) P~ltl'llts ;\ct)' 
(7) i\PI)L'~lIs lIgaillst decisions 011 the Objl'Ctioll or lill applicant to an 
additional fce set by the Austrian Patent ()Ilice under Article 17 (:')(0) OJ' 34 IP/N/II A UT /P/2 
Page 12 
(3)((/) of the peT Sh~lll he detcnnillcd hy the ApPl'al [)i\'i~ion or th~ /\lIs1ri~11l 
Patent ()Ilice. 
Pllb/jClIliO/l olld l~lIyil/g ()/Jl'1I .IeJl' 1)lIh/ic 11I.\,/}(J('liulI: 
"~/e}rJ/I(/li(}1I (~r IIt(' PIII>/i(': 
Rig/lis IJl'ri\'illg .Ii '011 I 1'lIhli('olio/l (~r ,ltc' IlIll'J'llllliol/(// ,\/J/J/inllio/l 
20. (1) International applications that arc pllhlish~d by the International 
Hureall or the World Intellectual Property ()rganilalion LInder Article 21 of 
the peT s h a II be pub lis h e dan d I aid () pen j'o I' pub I i c ills P l' C t ion by t h l' 
i\ 1I S ( ria 11 J> ate n ( ( ) I Ti c e . t () ~ l' ( her \ \" i t h ~ III \. ( r ~ Ins I ~ It i 0 Jl ~ t hat 111 ~ I V h a Ve he L' 11 ....... . 
riled (Section 21). until such til11e as it patent is granted or the p~llelll 
application rejl'cted or \\'ithdr~l\\,I1, SL'ctioll 101 (I) and (~) of thl' Patents Act 
shall ~lpply 1IIIII1IIis /JllIllIllclis, 
(1) The rights deriving frOlll an illtern~lIi()nal ~lpplicatioll pllhli~hl'd ulllk'r 
Article 21 of the peT shall be delennined by application /l1l/IUlis Jlllilondis 
of the provisions of Section 4. This shall be \vithout prejudice to Article 15X 
( I ) or the EPe. 
(1) The Cialelle urtile International Burc:tu urthe \Vorld Illtelkl"tu~t1 Proper!) 
()rganization (peT. Article 55 (4)) and puhlished illternatillll~t1 lIppliclitions 
shall he laid open for public inspectio}l at the Austrian Patent ()ITice, 
(-I) RL'~istl'rs slwlll1L' "l'pt or illtl'J'Il:ltiOIl:tI ~lppliL'ali()lls \\hil'h sll~t11 providl' 
the public witll rapid :.llld relillhk illrortlllitioll Oil tllusL' applil'atiulls, 
III. C'()/v!lv!()N PR()VISI();VS 
Fon11cll Require/lIenls (~r Trolls/alion 
21. 'Thc ronnal rcquirctnents or a lrallsl~lti()n or correction or a translation. 
riled by the applicant under this J:edcral Act. shall be specified in detail by 
an order issued by the President or the Austrian Patent Of rice. Consideration 
shall be given in the issue of this order to ensuring the greatest possible 
conciseness and sitnplicity and to 111eeting the rcquirelllcnts of the type or 
publication or the translation en\'isaged. Authcntici.ltion rnay not be dCtn~t1H .. kd, 
Fces ror Ihe Pl!hlic((lioll or 7i'{lIls/aliol1s . . 
22. (I) A publication fee shall be paid for every publication or a translatioll 
or a correction thereof provided for in this Federi.ll Act. IP/N/11 AUT IP/2 
Page 13 
(~) Till' puhlil'alioll fcc shall allHHlIll to ;\TS 1.6()() plus ;\TS 350 ror the 
"i\tll ~1I1d ror l'\'Cry ~lIh~eqllent page or till' tr~ln~lati()11 riled or or the correctioll 
thL'rl'llr as \\'ell ~I.S :\TS 350 for the third and for c\'cry sLlh~L'qllent shcct or 
l' Ill' I () ~ L' d d r ~ I \ \ ' i J1 g ~ . Sec. I 6 () ( I ()) p ~ It L' 11 Is ;\ l' t s h ~ til a p ply. 
( ~) Pay 1l1elll 0 I' the pll hi iC~it j Oil rel\ sh a II not he dec 1l1ed to h a \'c hcell Inade 
ulltil il has hl'CI1 duly proved (Sec. 169 P~ltenIs Act). 
COIJIj>CI('I/('C In HOlldle 8/(siJl(,ss: Fo/'nl L.\'{/llIillcI's 
2 J . (I) (' U 111 P ell' 11 c e I () h a 11 d k h 1I sill e ~ ~ l' () 11 n e c ted with E II r 0 pea n i.l n d 
illtl'rt1ational patent applications and European patents shall he detenllined. 
lI/lk,,~ olheJ'\\'i~l' pnn'ideu in this Federal Act. hy appliL'atiol1lJllI/Olis 1111f1(/lldis 
or thl' pr()\'i~ions ul' the Patents Act. 
(~) ":lllplu),l'cS \\Ill) ;Irl' 1101 Illl'lllhl'rs or till' P;ltl'llt ()Ilil'l' Ill:')' 11L' ~lt1tIH\ri/,ed. 
h\' ;111 llrtiL'r llr till' Presidellt or {he /\lI~triall Patent ()Ilicc. to handle business 
connected \"'ith European and international patent applications. as well as 
Europcan p~lteI11~ t/1c nature of \vhich business shall he specifically stated. 
IH)I~lhly e\alnination as to fOrln. illSOr~lr ~IS this is appropriate in vie\\' or the 
" i III P I i lit y () r t h l' h u " i 11 C S san dill L' t r ~ I i 11 i n g n r I h e e III p loy l' e s (1'01'111 e x a 111 i n L' I'S 
/ /-'(lnllo/l'riUi'I'/) :lIlords ~I guarantel' 01: orderly handling or t\1e business. 
1-'0l'n1 e.\alniners ~h:tll be under the illstruL'ti()l1~ or the nlCl11hel' or the Austl:ian 
()/lil'l' \1;11'1' \\'110 is l'OlllIK'tL'1l1 ;ll'L'()nljll~ to tilL' distrihutioJl or rl'\pollsihilitiL'S, 
TII;lt Illl'1l1hl'r 111:IY :11 allY tillll' rL'~l'I"\'l' till' Il:llldlill~ ul' htl\illl'~S 1'01' llilllsl"1' 
or taKl' o\'eJ' hll~illcss already being handke!. 
(.)) S L'L' t i () n 7 6 (I) . (-0 a 11 d (5) () r I h cPa t e 11 I sAc I ~ h a II a p ply /J I " I {/ lis 
/Jill/OJ/dis 10 rOl'ln e\i.llniners. 
(-l) Decisions or rOr111 eXi.uniners 1l1ay he appealed against in the Si.U11e 
\\,~ly as those or the con1petent Inelnber or the Patent Office staff. The 
cOlllpetcnt Inen1bel' 111ay grant the legal rernedy hinlself: if he considers that 
the legal relnedy should not he granted or should he granted only partially, 
Il~' ~h~I" ~uhll1it the ~Ippeal {o thl' ApPl'lt! Division i.lI1d Silitc the reasol1s 
therei'or ill his I'l'purl to il. 
COIII/J/nIlCII/ury 11/J/J/iC{[lio/l (~r IIic POICllls Act 
2 .... l:lIJ'opL'~1I1 lllltl intel'natioll,i1 patellt applicatiolls ,llld Europcan p~ltcnts. 
,lIltl procedures concerning these protection rights. shall he subject. /llllllllis 
1I11I/Ol/dis ~llld Oil ,I cOlllplclllcllt,lry h~lsis. to ilpplil'tltiull oj' the provisions or 
I Ill' P~lteJ1t~ Act. ill addition to till' pnn'isiollS oj' till' 1:1>('. till' peT alld this 
Feder~1I Act. IP INII I A UT IP 12 
Page 14 
I::/ll r \' i 111 () Fo J"C C 
25. For European patellt appl iCi.lt ions and paten ts t his F'ede ra I Act shall 
ellter into force 011 the elltry into force or th(' EPC for the Republic of Austrii.l 
(EPC. Article 1(0). and for intl'rllatiollal ~lpplicali()I1S Oil till' l'l1lry into rorce 
of the peT for the Republic or Austri~l (peT. /\rtick 63 J. 
26. (I) (Constitutional provisions) This Federal Act shall he repealed: 
I. in respect or applications under the EPC. when the EPC ceases to h~I\'e 
effect in the Republic or Austria: 
, in respect or applications under the peT. \\'hen the peT L'eaSL'S to have 
efrect in the Republic or Austria. 
(2) Article 175 of the EPe shall rell1ain unaffected. 
(3) Article 66 (2) of the peT shall renlain unaffected. 
III II "(' III (' III (/ I if), I 
27. The ill1pielllcntation or this Federal Act is entruskd to the Federal 
Governll1ent insofar as sllch illlplel11elllatio'n is not inclIlnhent on the Federal 
Minish:r or COllllHerce. Trade and Industry alld the FL'dL'r~tI [\·1inistL'r for 
Foreign Affairs by vil1ue oflhe Federal Ministries Law (!3lflld('slIlillis/cril'lIgc's('/::.). 
Federal La\v Gal.elle No. 3X9. 