PATENTS ACT
NO. 57 OF 1978
[ASSENTED TO 26 APRIL, 1978]
[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 JANUARY, 1979]
(Unless otherwise indicated)
(English text signed by the State President)
as amended by
Patents Amendment Act, No. 14 of 1979
Patents Amendment Act, No. 67 of 1983
Patents Amendment Act, No. 44 of 1986
Patents Amendment Act, No. 76 of 1988
General Law Amendment Act, No. 49 of 1996
[with effect from 4 October, 1996]
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act, No. 38 of 1997
Patents Amendment Act, No. 10 of 2001
Patents Amendment Act, No. 58 of 2002
GENERAL NOTE
In terms of s. 48 of Act No. 38 of 1997, the expression “South African Institute of
Patent Agents”, wherever it occurs, is substituted by the expression “South African
Institute of Intellectual Property Laws”.
ACT
To provide for the registration and granting of patents for inventions and for matters
connected therewith.
[Long title substituted by s. 49 of Act No. 38 of 1997.]
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Division of Act into Chapters
Definitions
Application of Act
State bound by patent
CHAPTER I
ADMINISTRATION
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Establishment of patent office
Seal of patent office
Registrar of patents
Designation of commissioner of patents
Agents only to act in matters in terms of this Act
CHAPTER II
THE REGISTRAR OF PATENTS AND THE PATENT JOURNAL
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Register of patents
......
Inspection of register
Registrar to furnish information from register on request
Patent Journal