International Patent Protection: Filing an International Patent Application at the WIPO (PCT Application / “World Patent”)
For globally active companies, patent protection in Germany or Europe is sometimes not enough. Protection is therefore often extended to other countries, e.g. via an international patent application (PCT application) at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, in order to build up a kind of “world patent”.
So, if you e.g. have already filed for or registered a German patent application, a EP patent application or a German utility model, our Patent Attorneys Office and IP Law Firm with Patent Lawyer (European Patent, Trademark and Design Attorney) as well as German Attorney (Certified Intellectual Property Lawyer) will be happy to support you if you wish to file an international patent application.
We are also happy to assist you with further applications for the technical invention (e.g. in other countries or regions):
Through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international patent application at the WIPO can be reached, which is valid in over 150 contracting states (e.g. in the USA, Switzerland, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, etc.) without having to involve local attorneys first. If a patent application is filed within the final deadline of 12 months of the application / filing of the original application, its priority can be claimed to virtually maintain the filing date.
If you would like to apply for an international patent or file an international patent application, please feel free to contact our Patent Law Firm and Intellectual Property Law Office with Patent Lawyer (German Patent Attorney / European Patent Attorney) and let us know your existing patent application or utility model application. We can then provide you with more detailed information on the cost of an international patent.
Procedure of an International Patent Application (PCT Application) at the WIPO (“World Patent”):
First application (priority application), e.g. German or European patent application or German utility model ➔ Filing of a PCT application and claiming the priority of the first application ➔ Preparation of an International Search Report ➔ Optional: International examination ➔ Nationalization / regionalization of the PCT application in the desired countries within 30 or 31 months from the filing date of the first application
The examination procedures are then carried out at the national or regional level, which means, the PCT application allows to basically buy time to extend the protection. For example, the decision whether to continue the industrial property right application in other countries can be extended from 12 months to 30 or 31 months. In addition, one receives an International Search Report as a (further) basis for a decision how to proceed.
From the WIPO overview linked here, you can see the current member states of the international patent application, which are covered by a PCT application.
We can also get you in contact with our international network of colleagues and obtain a quote for your patent applications in other countries outside the system of international patent protection. Just contact us for this purpose!