A Study on Efforts for Global Harmonization of Patent Law

Due to the territorial nature of the patent system and the independence of the patent system, harmonization of patent law and enforcement of international patent protection are required to resolve international patent issues. In the area of patent law, therefore, a number of multilateral treaties attempting to establish a globally unified patent system have been developed since the conclusion of the Paris Convention in 1883. This article mainly analyzes and evaluates efforts for global harmonization of patent law based on the examination of key international patent treaties (including such as the PCT, the TRIPs Agreement, the PLT, and the SPLT) and the consideration of factors that might hinder the global patent law harmonization.