What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international agreement that provides a unified procedure for filing patents in multiple countries. The PCT was signed in 1970 and is now administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations. The treaty simplifies and expedites the process of filing and obtaining patent protection in many countries. In general, applicants who sign up for the PCT must file an international patent application. This application combines all the elements necessary to get a patent in multiple countries, including the claim, description of the invention, and drawings. The international patent application is then processed through the International Bureau at WIPO. The bureau examines the application and sends it to each country that the applicant has requested. In New Hampshire, the PCT streamlines the process of applying for patents. Applicants can file a single application and have it sent to multiple countries, allowing them to obtain patent protection more quickly. This makes it easier for inventors to protect their innovations and inventions from infringement. Additionally, the PCT makes it easier to track patent applications around the world and monitor new developments in the field of intellectual property law.

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What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?

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