Jordan’s Accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty

Jordan is off to a busy and productive year from an intellectual property standpoint. Starting late in December of 2016, the Jordanian Council of Ministers approved the accession of the Kingdom into the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing the country to join 151 other member-states in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) union. On March 9, 2017 Ms. Saja Majali, Jordan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, officially deposited the country’s instrument of accession to the PCT, allowing Jordan to become the 152^ndContracting State of the PCT. This move gave the Kingdom an official starting date: On June 9, 2017, Jordan will officially become bound by the PCT.

Under the leadership of Director Zain Al Awamleh, the Jordanian Industrial Property Protection Directorate in Amman will likely see an increase in patent filings, as the technology boom continues to improve Jordan’s regional and global economic status. As of June 9, 2017, companies from all over the world will be able to seamlessly file patent applications in Jordan. Further, Jordanian inventors will be able to reach every corner of the globe in protecting their innovations. This move will boost the country’s position as an up-and-coming leader in technology and innovation, further connecting Jordanian innovators to the global market.

The PCT has carefully honed the fundamental tenets associated with the patent process since 1978, including reasoned search reports and detailed written opinions. With this increased knowledge base, and the world within reach, Jordan’s global status as an innovation hub will increase to allow Jordanian nationals and residents further avenues to protect their ground-breaking innovations and disruptive technologies. In turn, these companies will have internationally protectable ideas, which will facilitate higher employment and the growth of a knowledge-based economy. This move will thus cement Jordan’s status as a stable country with a young and educated population; one that is ripe for investments in the innovation, research, and development sectors.