Filing International PCT Application

International Phase

The international phase includes the filing of an international application, drawing up an international search report and a written opinion, publication of the application by the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and (optional) preliminary international examination.

The international phase of the procedure makes it possible for an applicant to understand the invention’s patentability and the feasibility of further examination of the application when selecting countries.

PCT Application

You may protect your invention abroad by filing an application either directly to the patent office of the country in which a holder wants to have a patent, or through an international patent system, in accordance with the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) which includes more than 150 countries.

In this case the priority is preserved in accordance with your national application, if the application is filed to a foreign patent office or if an international application is filed within 12 months after the national application priority date.

The system of filing an international application in accordance with the PCT procedure makes it possible to enjoy the legal protection of your invention in all PCT member countries.

The PCT system allows you to obtain patents for inventions, utility models, inventor’s certificates, utility certificates and patents of addition.