Patent protection is very broad, and Swiss law provides rights to inventors that are comparable to those available in the United States. The duration of a patent is 20 years. Renewal fees are payable annually on an ascending scale. Patents are not renewable beyond the original 20-year term, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, where the Swiss adopted a patent term restoration procedure in 1995. A decision on applications to import certain products containing GMOs is due in December 1996.
Trademarks are also well protected.
Switzerland recognizes well known trademarks and has established simple procedures to register and renew all marks. The initial period of protection is 20 years. Service marks also enjoy full protection. A new copyright law in 1993 improved a regime that was already quite good. The new law explicitly recognizes computer software as a literary work and establishes a remuneration scheme for private copying of audio and video works which distributes proceeds on the basis of national treatment.