What is a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application?

A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application is an international patent filing system designed to protect an inventor’s rights in multiple countries. Inventors use the PCT application to secure international patent protection for their inventions simultaneously, instead of filing a separate patent application in each country. Under the PCT, the International Bureau documents the PCT application and makes it available to potential patent offices around the world. The patent offices then have access to the application and can decide if they would like to grant the patent or not. In New York, an inventor can file a PCT application through the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After filing the application, the inventor must then decide if they would like the USPTO to conduct the international search or choose another international search authority to conduct the search. If the search indicates that the invention is indeed patentable, the inventor can then choose to proceed with filing the patent with the USPTO or with a foreign patent office. Overall, the PCT application is a useful process for those seeking international patent protection for their inventions. By filing a single PCT application, inventors can save considerable time and money compared to filing separate patent applications in each country. Additionally, the international search conducted under the PCT helps the inventor to determine if their invention is indeed patentable.

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What is a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application?

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