About PCT National Phase Filings
The patent procedure established by the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) provides a cost-efficient single entry to file patent applications in almost every country in the world.
The PCT patent application (also called “International Application”) must be filed with the International Bureau (IB, the PCT authority) or with a Patent Office that is competent in handling such applications.
The PCT procedure consists of two phases.
In the first “international” phase a search report is provided to point out relevant prior art and an opinion on the patentability of the invention.
The PCT procedure itself does not give rise to any patent rights. Instead, in the second “national” phase, the PCT application must be followed up by filings of PCT National Phase applications in every country and region where patent protection is desired.
The PCT National Phase applications resemble national filings in the respective country. They normally need to be translated into the local language and be prosecuted against the national patent office who then needs to be convinced that the invention is patentable. However, filing of PCT National Phase applications are much more simplified compared to the filing of “normal” national patent applications since most of the formal requirements have been resolved in the first, international phase of the PCT application.
Ipendo PCT National Phase Filings – the service
Ipendo PCT National Phase Filings is a service module provided to all users of the Ipendo Platform. All the information that is required to enter the national phase of a PCT application is already secured in the Ipendo Platform. All we need is an order from you indicating which PCT application you want to enter in which countries. Any additional paperwork such as signing Power of Attorney documents that may arise are dealt with swiftly by Ipendo.
The respective national filing must be filed with a local patent attorney in each country. Depending on your preferences, we either use patent attorneys that you appoint or we can provide recommendations on attorneys that are already members of the Ipendo
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