PCT Applicant's Guide Belgium EQE - Valid as from 31 Oct 2024

Materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE)
Special edition as of 31 October 2024, prepared for EQE candidates

Useful information

The PCT Applicant’s Guide is updated almost every week with information received by the International Bureau.

In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.

List of abbreviations used in this document:

Office: Belgian Intellectual Property Office (IPObel)

Countries and Offices information:

The list of acronyms used for Offices is no longer shown as it has been integrated in the mouseover functionality for each ST.3 code shown in this document.
Refer to List of WIPO Standards, Recommendations and Guidelines formerly Annex K, List of country names and two-letter codes. It includes a list of short names and two-letter codes accepted for use in indicating States, other entities and intergovernmental organizations and their Offices in documents relating to international applications under the PCT. The list is as set out in WIPO Standard ST.3.
Also refer to PCT Contracting States formerly Annex A.

Office profile

For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.

PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities

The Office does not have any reservations, declarations, notifications or incompatibilities.
Refer to the full list.

Office Closed dates

The Office is closed weekly on Saturday and Sunday

Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

International Phase

Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

Contracting State:

Belgium

Two-letter code:

Name of Office:

Belgian Intellectual Property Office (IPObel)

Location:

Atrium C
Rue du Progrès 50
B-1210 Bruxelles
Belgium

Mailing address:

Same as above

Telephone:

(32-2) 277 90 11

E-mail:

opridie-tech@economie.fgov.be

Website:

http://economie.fgov.be/fr/themes/propriete-intellectuelle/office-belge-de-la-propriete

Facsimile:

(32-2) 277 52 62

Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?

Yes, by facsimile

Which kinds of documents may be so transmitted?

All kinds of documents

Must the original of the document be furnished in all cases?

Yes,

within 14 days from the date of the transmission

Does the Office send notifications via e-mail in respect of international applications?

Would the Office accept evidence of mailing a document, in case of loss or delay, where a delivery service other than the postal authorities is used (PCT Rule 82.1)?

Is the Office prepared to allow applicants to make applications available to the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS) (PCT Rule 17.1(b-bis)?

Yes, the Office is prepared to allow applicants to make national applications available to the WIPO DAS

Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:

Nationals or residents of Belgium or legal persons having a principal place of business in Belgium must file an international application which may be of interest for national defense or security with the Belgian Intellectual Property Office (IPObel)

EP,

Does national legislation restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices?

Refer to the Office

Competent designated (or elected) Office(s) for this State:

Refer to corresponding National Phase.

Types of protection available via the PCT:

European patents

Payment methods accepted by the Office:

Not applicable. The Office does not act as receiving Office and has closed its national route

Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):

Article XI.23, paragraph 10 of the Code of Economic Law

Provisional protection after international publication:

Designation for the purposes of a European patent:

(1) International application published in one of the EPO official languages:

compensation reasonable in the circumstances, on condition that any national requirements relating to the translation of the claims in the application have been met

(2) International application published in a language which is not an EPO official language:

the protection referred to in (1) does not become effective until the EPO publishes the international application supplied to it in one of its official languages

Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)

Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?

For a European patent

Refer to Annex B(EP)

Annex C - Receiving Office

The Office does not act as receiving Office

This Office has delegated its RO functions to RO/EP. Refer to Annex C(EP) for more information.

National Phase

The Office closed the national route

Refer to National Chapter(EP)

Processing

BE - Belgium
Belgian Intellectual Property Office (IPObel)