Can a national application be converted to an international application?

Can a national application be converted to an international application?

Yes, a national application can be converted to an international application under certain conditions. The MPEP states: “A national application may be converted to an international application by filing a PCT international application within one year from the earliest U.S. filing date of the national application and including the United States of America as a designated state.” (MPEP 201.01) This conversion allows applicants to seek patent protection internationally while maintaining the priority date of their original national filing. It’s important to note that this conversion must be done within the one-year timeframe to preserve priority rights.

For more information on conversion, visit: conversion.