On May 31, 2011 Rwanda (RW) became the 144th PCT contracting state and PCT will enter into force on 31 august 2011. Earlier this month on May 3, 2011 Qatar (QA) became the 143rd PCT contracting state. PCT will enter into force on 3 August 2011. Thereafter, it would be possible to file pct application and designate any of 144 countries of choice for patent protection.
There was not a new contracting state in 2010, though there was reification for the Kingdom in Europe, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist on 10 October 2010. As from that date, the PCT continues to apply to Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The PCT also continues to apply to the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba which, with effect from 10 October 2010, have become part of the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Europe.
Last time there were new contracting state introduced in 2009, when Peru (June 6, 2009) and Thailand (December 24, 2009) became the 141 and 142 contracting state respectively.
Before accession, Qatar as part of the PCT does not have patent for the Industrial Design Act, eventhough the publication of warnings precautions were available.
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