1. How do I apply for a patent in Israel?

Applying for a patent in Israel is very similar to applying for a patent in other countries, such as the United States of America. First, a patent application which describes the invention must be prepared. Israel does not have any form of "provisional" application, so the patent application must also include claims. Next, the patent application must be filed, either by the inventor or by a registered Israeli patent attorney. Finally, the patent application must undergo examination. A registered Israeli patent attorney can provide significant help for this last stage, which involves arguments of a legal nature. The eventual goal, of course, is to obtain an issued patent.

2. What language can be used for a patent application in Israel?

A patent application can be written in Hebrew (the official language of Israel), Arabic or English. The majority of patent applications filed in Israel are written in English.

3. Who may apply for a patent in Israel?

An application may be filed in the name of the owner of the invention. The owner of the invention may be the inventor or a person, company or other legal entity who has obtained ownership from the inventor. In this respect, Israel differs from the United States of America, which allows a patent application to be filed only in the name of the inventor.

4. Can more than one applicant own a patent in Israel?

Yes.

5. What is the term of an issued patent in Israel?

The term is 20 years from the date of filing of the application.

6. Can Israel be selected as a country for filing an application as part of the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) process?

Yes. Israel became a signatory to the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 1995, effective from 1.7.1996.

7. What is a "priority date" and why is it important?

The priority date is the date on which a previous patent application for the same invention was filed. As in other countries, such as the United States of America or Europe, the priority can be claimed up to one year after the initial filing. The priority date is used to determine who filed an application first, if two or more applications are filed for the same invention, as well as to determine the prior art which can be cited against the application.