What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system?

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system is an international system that provides assistance to inventors in protecting their intellectual property in foreign countries. The PCT system is managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Under the PCT system, an inventor can file a single application with the WIPO, which is then passed on to the participating countries of the PCT. This application will act as a placeholder until the inventor is ready to file a patent application in each of the countries where they would like to protect their invention. The PCT system also provides an international search which will examine the prior art related to the invention and provide an opinion as to whether the invention is novel and non-obvious. In South Carolina, inventors who wish to take advantage of the PCT system must file an international application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The USPTO then forwards the application to the WIPO, which then directs the application to the countries in which the inventor seeks protection. The PCT system provides a streamlined process for filing international patent applications without having to submit individual applications to the patent offices of each country. Additionally, the PCT system can provide an inventor with a more cost-effective way to protect their intellectual property in multiple countries.

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What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system?

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