What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international agreement designed to simplify and streamline the process of patenting inventions in multiple countries. Under the PCT, patent applicants can submit a single patent application that covers many countries by filing through a “receiving office” or one of the PCT’s member countries. The PCT offers two important advantages. First, applicants must only submit a single international patent application instead of individual applications with different offices around the world. This saves time, money and effort. Second, applicants are granted a grace period of 12 to 18 months from the date the application was filed to decide which countries to pursue patent protection in. The Washington State Patent Office is not a Receiving Office of the PCT. If a patent applicant wishes to use the PCT process to patent in Washington, they must first file their application with one of the PCT’s Receiving Offices. Should a patent applicant choose to pursue patent protection in Washington, they must then file a separate application directly with the Washington State Patent Office. By using the PCT, inventors can pursue patent protection in multiple countries quickly and easily. The PCT offers a streamlined, cost-effective way to protect inventions in many countries without having to submit multiple applications.

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What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?

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