PCTs

PCTs, or Patent Cooperation Treaty applications, refer to the international filings made under the Patent Cooperation Treaty to seek patent protection in multiple jurisdictions. The PCT system is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and provides a centralized procedure that streamlines the process of pursuing global patent protection.

A single PCT international application can be filed, designating multiple contracting states. This international phase allows applicants to delay entering national or regional patent offices while receiving an international search and an assessment of patentability. The application undergoes an International Search by an appointed International Searching Authority, which produces an International Search Report and a written opinion on novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Applicants may also request an optional International Preliminary Examination to obtain an International Preliminary Report on Patentability before entering the national phase. The international publication of the application occurs 18 months from the earliest priority date.

After the international phase, applicants enter the national or regional phase in designated states or regions, typically within about 30 to 33 months from the earliest priority date, depending on local rules. At that stage, each national or regional patent office examines the application under its own law, and a grant decision is made independently.

Benefits of the PCT system include more time to evaluate markets, a centralized prior-art search, and the ability to defer costly national filings while preserving high-quality information needed for decision-making. Limitations include the financial and procedural costs, translation requirements, and the fact that the PCT does not itself issue a patent; protection must be pursued through individual offices.

The PCT was established in 1970 and entered into force in 1978. It now has over 150 contracting states and is administered by WIPO. See also patent law, international patent protection, and national patent offices.