An international Patent Application called a
Patent Cooperation Treaty or PCT Patent Application is the most cost effective way to ensure International protection for an invention. If an invention is thought to have
global value, filing a PCT Patent Application is simply a must. International patent protection increases the value of an individual’s invention while maintaining the option to file in any foreign country for a period of 2½ years.
In my practice, most clients decide they want to apply for a PCT patent application when they already have a pending provisional patent or a regular U.S Patent application on file and then decide to extend their coverage internationally.
It’s noteworthy, that if there has been a public disclosure of the invention prior to the priority date, which could be the provisional patent application, or the non-provisional U.S application, the inventor is
not entitled to international protection.
Even in this case, the individual might make the decision to file the PCT patent application based on other factors such as expedited examination of the application in the United States patent office.
Lastly, in the instance of an individual who has not yet filed a patent application, we prepare a complete patent application to meet the legal requirements of the U.S Patent office in addition to the International requirements.
The PCT patent application process can be fairly complex.
The best advice is to have a patent professional handle preparing, filing and prosecuting your PCT Patent Applications.
Post Date: December 2, 2012
