As part of our Patents practice, we provide international patent services.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions, helps Patent Offices with their patent granting decisions, and facilitates public access to a wealth of technical information relating to those inventions. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in a very large number of countries. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) administers the PCT. This type of international patent application provides protection for inventions in over 150 nations around the globe.
International Patent Assistance
We assist clients with obtaining international patents in foreign countries as well as assisting foreigners with obtaining domestic patent registration within the U.S. based on foreign patent applications.
Deadline for Filing International Patent
Generally, the foreign filing deadline for a patent application is 12 months from the priority date. For a utility patent application or provisional patent application, this is typically 12 months from the application’s filing date. However, if an application relies upon the filing date of a provisional application, the foreign filing date is typically the 12-month anniversary of the provisional application, not the utility application.
Cost of International Patent Registration
We recognize the cost of patent registration can get expensive depending on the scope as well as number of claims desired. Filing patents internationally can significantly increase patent prosecution and portfolio maintenance costs. We work with a network of foreign associates throughout the world to provide cost-effective service to clients.
Additional Insights Regarding International Patent Registration
For more information on international patents, see our Legal Insights and Industry Solutions pages.
