The International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was first signed in Paris in 1883. The document itself is known as the Paris Convention. The convention has been revised many times and its current language encompasses patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. As of November 2008, there were 173 contracting parties to the Paris Convention.
The Paris Convention established some important international protocols to deal with multi-national patent filings. It both protects some rights of those who file international applications, and governs procedure for how signatory states should treat these patent filings. Most importantly, the Paris Convention included the vital concept of “priority". This means that under the Paris Convention, patent applicants are granted the date of their first filing as the active application date for patent applications in all additional Paris Union countries, for up to 12 months after filing the original application.
Another useful function of the Paris Convention treaty is that it contains provisions to ensure that intellectual property holders who are non-residents and non-nationals of a Paris Union country are given the same expectations and rights under the law as nationals of said country.Maryland Assignment of Pending Application by Sole Inventor — Paris Convention allows a sole inventor in Maryland to transfer their intellectual property rights in a pending patent application to another party. This legal document ensures a smooth and legally binding transfer of ownership, rights, title, and interest in the invention and the application itself. The Paris Convention, an international treaty, provides a framework for the protection of intellectual property rights among member countries, encouraging harmonization and cooperation in the field of patents. Under the Paris Convention, inventors can claim priority filing rights within a specific time frame for their patent applications in other member countries, including Maryland. There are different types of Maryland Assignment of Pending Application by Sole Inventor — Paris Convention, including: 1. Absolute Assignment: This type of assignment involves the complete transfer of all rights and interests in the pending patent application from the sole inventor to another party. The assignee becomes the new owner and enjoys the benefits and obligations associated with the application. 2. Limited Assignment: In some cases, a sole inventor may choose to assign only specific rights or portions of their pending patent application to another party. This limited assignment can include certain claims, specific territories, or particular uses of the invention, retaining ownership over the remaining aspects. 3. Exclusive Assignment: An exclusive assignment grants the assignee sole and exclusive rights to the pending patent application, prohibiting the sole inventor from granting similar rights to any other party. This type of assignment commonly involves a contractual agreement between the inventor and the assignee, outlining the scope and terms of the exclusivity. 4. Non-exclusive Assignment: Unlike an exclusive assignment, a non-exclusive assignment allows the sole inventor to transfer rights to multiple parties simultaneously. The inventor retains ownership and can grant similar rights to other assignees, providing more flexibility in commercializing the invention. In conclusion, the Maryland Assignment of Pending Application by Sole Inventor — Paris Convention is a crucial legal instrument that empowers sole inventors to transfer their rights in a pending patent application. It ensures a seamless transition of ownership and supports inventors in monetizing their intellectual property within the framework of the Paris Convention. Various types of assignments offer different levels of exclusivity and enable inventors to tailor the transfer of rights to suit their commercial needs.
