P1: Can a patent search be conducted?
Yes.

P2: Can a patent application be filed without its complete documents?
Yes, however, the missing documents should be submitted within 3-month from the filing date of the application.

P3: Can convention priority be claimed? Paris Convention?
Yes.

P4: Can a registration be obtained for pharmaceutical products?
No. However, such inventions are filed as to the method of preparation thereof, whereupon the invention title and the claims should be amended to start with "Method of preparation of …." 

P5: What is the term of protection of a patent and from which date is it calculated? Can it be extended?
(20) Years from filing date as from the international filing date for patent application under PCT and as from the national filing date for patent application under Paris Convention, which cannot be extended. The annuity is paid each year.

P6: Is a secret form of filing a model/design permitted?
Not applicable.

P7: Is there a novelty requirement? Is it local or worldwide?
Local and worldwide novelty is required for the patent applied for.

P8: Are utility models granted protection in your country under the Current Law?
Yes, the same Laws enforced for patents are implemented for Utility Model.

P9: Is the patent protection available for software alone, or must the software be coupled with computer hardware in order to permit patent application?
Software protection alone is not available under the Syrian Patent law. Please refer to answers: C1-C9 below.

P10: Can the specifications or claims be amended?
Yes, Amendments can be made upon filing the patent application or if the patent application is rejected by the Syrian Patent Office.

After granting the patent, a separate application for a patent of addition would be required.

P11: Could annuity payments be made before the granting of the patent?
Annuities payment before granting the patent is required to keep the application in force.

P12: In what language should specifications and claims of the patent be filed?
English or French, with the relative Arabic Translation.

P13: Is working of the invention required to keep protection in force and, if so, can the working requirements be satisfied by importation or nominal working?
Working of the patented invention is required in Syria. However, in the absence of actual working, a nominal one is satisfactory.

P14: What are the conditions that might lead to a compulsory license?
It depends on the type of invention applied-for and the PTO discretion.

P15: Must assignments be recorded within a certain period?
Yes, within (3) months from the assignment effective date. Afterwards a fine payment will be imposed for every month delay period.

P16: Does the Patent Law provide for licenses or registered users?
Yes.

P17: Does the Patents Office publish the patent applications in the
Yes, the accepted patent application should be published for opposition in the Official Gazette for period of six months.

If no third party has opposed the acceptance of the patent application, the second publication of registered patent should be published in the Official Gazette to be followed by granting the patent.