Paris Convention

Signed in 1883 it provides two fundamental patent rights: (1) citizen or resident of any signatory country will enjoy in all signatory countries the rights each signatory country grants to its own citizens and residents; (2) citizen or resident of any signatory country, within 12 months (6 months for trademarks) after filing a patent in the home country, can file an application in any signatory country to receive the benefits of the original filing date. Its full name is 'International Convention For The Protection Of Industrial Property.' Also called Paris Union. See also Patent Cooperation Treaty.