Ambassador King deposited the U.S. instruments of ratification for the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) on September 18, 2013 with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Francis Gurry. With the addition of the United States as a Contracting Party, set for December 18, 2013, the Patent Law Treaty will have 36 Contracting Parties. “The Treaty will benefit not only U.S. patent applicants and patentees but those of all PLT Contracting Parties looking to protect their inventions, efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Ambassador King. The PLT harmonizes certain patent application procedures in order to reduce or eliminate formalities and the potential for loss of rights. The Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 was signed into law by President Obama on December 18, 2012, and will become effective on December 18, 2013.