The Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which comprised the Netherlands, Suriname and the former Netherlands Antilles) provided for the possibility of setting up by mutual arrangement a common regulation which is valid for all the countries within the Kingdom. In pursuance thereof, on June 1, 1969, a law became effective, by which the Dutch Patent Act has been declared binding throughout the whole Kingdom. After Suriname acquired independence, several laws obtained the status of national laws; also the laws mentioned hereafter:

– Patent Act for the Kingdom 1910, and Amendments thereof.
– Dutch Patent Regulations 1921, and Amendments thereof.

Amendments enacted in the Netherlands after the independence of Suriname in 1975 have no effect in this country.

– Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883), Stockholm Act of July 14, 1967, since November 25, 1975.
– Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of July 14, 1967, since November 25, 1975.
– The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille), since November 25, 1975.
– Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification (1971), since November 25, 1975.
– WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, since January 1, 1995.

Due to insufficient legislation there is much uncertainty concerning the interpretation of the laws. Although the Dutch Patent Act was granted the status of national law of Suriname, it contains certain provisions that cannot be applied to Suriname as an independent country. A new decree on this subject has been drafted but is not yet enacted. After 1975 (Independence) no patent has been registered. All applicants are referred to the Netherlands or Germany for registration.