What is a PCT application in international patent law?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
A PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application is an international patent application that provides a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in its contracting states. According to MPEP 201.02:
“An international application is a patent application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).”
Key features of PCT applications include:
- Single filing procedure for seeking patent protection in multiple countries
- Standardized national phase entry at 30 months from the earliest priority date
- International search report and written opinion on patentability
- Option for international preliminary examination
PCT applications simplify the process of seeking patent protection internationally, providing applicants with more time and information to make decisions about pursuing patents in specific countries.
For more information on Patent Cooperation Treaty, visit: Patent Cooperation Treaty.