The Single Patent for Portuguese or Spanish Language Countries

Abstract

The economic and financial situation in Southern European Countries creates an almost involuntary need for entrepreneurial ideas and innovation in the approach to social, legal and political solutions. Countries such as Portugal and Spain struggle to define strategies to improve their economies.Transversal to several fields, including the Information Science and Technology, we may consider as possible path or valid option the Patent System. If we consider the Patent System as a possible route to protect and stimulate investment, we may say that, presently, an isolated Portuguese or a Spanish patent does not represent a common choice for investors. To address this issue, this article proposes a new approach to the Patent System, based on the creation of a patent that will cover, with only one standard submission and evaluation process, all the Portuguese or Spanish language countries. Moving towards the establishment of a more innovative and competitive environment, the “Portuguese and/or Spanish Language Patent” would give a broader competitive advantage to companies operating within these particular markets, and, therefore, to the countries themselves. The strongest international advantage each of these two countries (Portugal and Spain) has in common is the widespread dissemination of their language across multiple continents. The present approach would be a complementary response to the implementation of the European Union Unitary Patent. The consolidation of the “Portuguese and/or Spanish Language Patent” would rely on the same principles defined for the Unitary Patent: simplicity; lower cost; and the involvement of a large number of Countries.