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At-a-glance: The Patent Office Agudat Sport Hapoel St, 1, Technological Garden, Building No 5, Jerusalem, 96951 Israel Tel: (972 2) 565 16 43 / 44 (Commissioner), (972 2) 565 16 60 (Central), Fax: (972 2) 565 17 70 (Central) Email: patent@justice.gov.il Website:... [more]

Israel has emerged this year from a period of change regarding IP, most notably the accession to the Madrid Protocol, a new patent office registrar in Asa Kling and a new approach from the Israeli Patent Office itself.

"It [the patent office] took on 40 new examiners and now offers a search within three months of the filing date. It wants to make Israel a designated filing jurisdiction, and are marketing the office well," says one attorney.

One corollary of this is an increase in rates at the office: "The new costs are to do with the patent office – it became an independent authority a few years ago and this is it showing some muscle," says one partner.

Having had time now to consider the Madrid Protocol, some attorneys are reassessing its impact: "Madrid I think is positive. Yes it took some work away, but enough remains. For example, American clients seem to distrust it and are still in favour of filing nationally."

A subtler shift is also highlighted by lawyers, perceiving a rise in patent disputes due to the attitude of the authorities over costs: "We are seeing a lot more patent oppositions as you can get much higher actual costs out of it now."

Israel is one of very few jurisdictions that has evinced unqualified optimism about its market. "Nanotechnology, chemistry and green are all hotspots," enthuses one partner, while another highlights medical devices as a big area.

Two other things are also coming together that bode well for the market in the year to come: "The economy is strong, as is the currency," says one attorney, while a lawyer adds: "There is a growing awareness of IP and its importance."