Explanatory note

This Order, made pursuant to section 90(1) of the Patents Act 1977 with a view to the fulfilment of obligations under the International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (“the Paris Convention”) (as revised at Stockholm in 1967) (Cmnd. 4431), declares Bhutan, Nepal and Tonga to be convention countries for the purposes of section 5 of the Patents Act 1977. Section 5 of the Patents Act 1977 affords certain rights of priority to applicants for patents, and this Order extends these rights of priority to applications filed in those countries.