Let’s open a new file: PCT applications.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, is an attempt to simplify patent filing procedures, particularly when the applicant seeks patent protection in numerous countries.
With a so-called ‘PCT’ application, a single filing serves as a filing in all designated countries.
This system does not grant a patent as such: only the initial stages of the procedure are conducted at the international level, while grant remains within the national or regional jurisdiction of each state.
Here are two resources that will be invaluable as you read further:
- The Patent Cooperation Treaty.
- The Regulations under the PCT. This document serves as a type of implementing regulation (comparable to a French decree).
Happy reading!