What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system?

The Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, is an international agreement that facilitates the filing of a single patent application to protect an invention in multiple countries. This means a patent holder can submit a single application to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and receive the same protection in multiple countries as if they had submitted separate patent applications to each country. The PCT system simplifies the patent application process and decreases the costs of filing for a patent in multiple countries. The PCT system also provides a centralized filing system for inventors to apply for protection of their inventions. Under the PCT, an inventor can file a single patent application that will then be sent to multiple countries for review. The PCT system also allows for the potential of speeding up the patent process, since inventors can wait to submit separate patent applications to each country until after they receive preliminary feedback on the international applications. In North Dakota, the PCT system is widely used by inventors looking to protect their inventions in multiple countries. The PCT system makes the process easier, faster, and cheaper for inventors to receive patent protection in multiple countries. This means North Dakota inventors can file a single patent application with WIPO and receive the same protection in multiple countries.

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