Patents Ordinance to be adapted and modernised in line with revised Patents Act

The Federal Council opened the consultation on the complete revision of the Patents Ordinance on 30 April 2025. The revision is necessary because the Federal Assembly passed a partial revision of the Patents Act in March 2024. The Federal Council is using this opportunity to completely revise and modernise the currently applicable ordinance, which has been in force since 1978. The consultation period will run until 22 August 2025.

Patent law is to be adapted to international standards, and the Swiss patent system is to be made more attractive to SMEs and individual inventors, in particular. This section provides information on the ongoing legislative process.

The valued partially examined patent will remain in place as a low-cost and easily obtainable IP right. However, patent examinations will be supplemented by a search that determines whether the invention is eligible for protection. Swiss patents will thus become more transparent and secure. In addition, it will be possible to apply for a full examination of a patent in Switzerland. Other changes include a streamlined appeal procedure and the option of using documents in English in the patent granting procedure.

Source: https://www.ige.ch/en/services/newsroom/news/news-details/die-patentverordnung-soll-an-das-revidierte-patentgesetz-angepasst-und-modernisiert-werden