PCT Application Services in Tennessee

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Services The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international treaty that enables inventors to submit a single patent application that can be used to request patent protection in different countries. The PCT application process is managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is an agency of the United Nations. By filing a PCT application, inventors can avoid the expense of filing individual patent applications in each country while also securing an early filing date. The PCT application process includes a search and examination of the invention by an International Searching Authority (ISA) to determine whether the invention meets the patentability requirements. The ISA also provides a written opinion on the patentability of the invention. Once the PCT application is filed, the inventor has up to 30 months from the priority date to enter the national or regional phase in each country where patent protection is sought. During this phase, the inventor must file a patent application in each country and follow each country’s patent laws and regulations.