Our U.S. based attorneys work with a global network of foreign associates to assist our clients in securing patent protection around the world.
Patents are strictly limited to the territory of each nation, but we live in a global economy. There are several factors that influence whether an inventor should seek patent protection in foreign countries, including cost and expected return, among other considerations. We work with each client to understand when foreign patent protection makes sense and when it does not. We understand the business pressures that our clients are under, and our goal, first and foremost, is to develop a plan that works with our client’s needs and resources.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) provides the most common route to protect an invention disclosed in a utility application outside the United States. A PCT application is an international application that allows for a stream-lined beginning of the foreign patent application process.
The PCT application provides an International Search Report and International Examination to assist in making a decision whether to pursue protection outside the United States. The PCT process provides approximately thirty months after the initial U.S. application filing to determine which specific foreign countries to target.