It was recently announced that an agreement permitting the validation of European patents in Morocco will enter into force on 1 March 2015. This will pave the way for anyone filing European patent applications on or after the aforementioned date, to also validate those granted European patents in Morocco, in addition to the currently available 40 European countries. Once validated in Morocco, the patents will have the same legal effect as any other national Moroccan patents and will be subject to local Moroccan patent law.

The agreement will provide for an alternative way of obtaining patent protection in Morocco, in addition to the currently available routes of filing Moroccan national patent applications or through international patent applications.

It is interesting to note that Morocco will be the first country not being a member of the European Patent Organisation to accept validation of European patents.

Werner van der Merwe

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