Patent Cooperation Treaty Update Accession by Uganda The United States Patent and Trademark Office received notification from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that Uganda deposited its instrument of accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on November 9, 1994. Uganda will become the 75th Contracting State of the PCT on February 9, 1995. Consequently, nationals and residents of Uganda are entitled to file international applications under the PCT on and after February 9, 1995, and from the same date it is possible to file international applications designating and electing Uganda (country code: UG). Designation for an ARIPO Patent will include Uganda The African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO) has 14 member States, 11 of which are party to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs. The Harare Protocol makes it possible to obtain an ARIPO patent effective in any or all of the Protocol's member States. Under amendments to the Harare Protocol and its Implementing Regulations adopted in April 1994, an international application under the PCT will be able to include a designation for an ARIPO patent (two-letter code: AP) of those Harare Protocol member States which are also Contracting States of the PCT. Processing of such international applications in the regional phase will be undertaken by the ARIPO office as a designated (or elected) Office under the PCT. Since Uganda is a member of the Harare Protocol within the framework of ARIPO, Uganda will be able to be designated for a patent granted by ARIPO. As of February 9, 1995, any designation in an international application for an ARIPO patent will automatically include the designation of Uganda for that purpose. Accession by Singapore The United States Patent and Trademark Office received notification from WIPO that Singapore deposited its instrument of accession to the PCT on November 23, 1994. Singapore will become the 76th Contracting State of the PCT on February 23, 1995. Consequently, nationals and residents of Singapore are entitled to file international applications under the PCT on and after February 23, 1995, and from the same date it is possible to file international applications designating and electing Singapore (county code: SG).