The Smart Patenting Solution

What is the PCT?

• The PCT features:

• simple procedure• single application• economical patent protection

Who is it for?

• The PCT is used by:

• applicants• inventors• patent offices

PCT Contracting States(18 on 28 January 1978)

PCT Contracting States(126 on 1 April 2005)

PCT Membership

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

IndustrializedCountries

DevelopingCountries

Least DevelopedCountries

CertainCountries in

Europe and Asia

The PCT System

(months)

0

File localapplication

File PCTapplication

120

The PCT System

(months)

120

Receive international

search report & written opinion

16

The PCT System

(months)

120 16 18

Internationalpublication

The PCT System

(months)

120 16 18

(optional)File

demand forinternational

preliminary examination

22

The PCT System

(months)

120 16 18 22 28

(optional)Receive

international preliminary report on

patentability

The PCT System

(months)

120 30

16 18

Enternationalphase

22 28

The PCT System

(months)

Why use the PCT?

PCT applicants:

• are well-informed about their chances of obtaining a patent before they spend time and resources on any national application

The PCT: • provides a strong basis for patenting

decisions

What are those large initial costs?

The traditional patenting system features:

• translation fees • local patent Office fees • local patent agent’s fees

When are these costs incurred?

Traditional patent systemvs.

PCT system

Traditional patent system

PCT system

Traditional patent systemvs.

PCT system

0 12

File local application

120

File applications abroad

Traditional patent system

PCT system

Traditional patent systemvs.

PCT system

0 12

File local application

120

File applications abroad

Traditional patent system

PCT system

Pay fees for:

translations, patent Office and patent

agents

Traditional patent systemvs.

PCT system

0 12

File local application

Pay fees for:

translations, patent Office and patent

agents

120 30

Enter nationalphase

File applications abroad

PCT system

Traditional patent system

Traditional patent systemvs.

PCT system

0 12

File local application

Pay fees for:

translations, patent Office and patent

agents

120 30

Enter nationalphase

Pay fees for:

translations, patent Office and patent

agents

File applications abroad

PCT system

Traditional patent system

The PCT is used throughout the world by corporations, universities and research institutions

• Philips Electronics (NL) • Siemens (DE)• Sony (JP)• Procter & Gamble (US)• University of California (US)• Unilever (GB/NL)• Matsushita Electric Industrial (JP)• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (IN)• LG Electronics (KR)• Samsung (KR)

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

14000019

78

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

Growth in PCT Filings

Developing Countries: Top 15 Filers in 2004

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Rep

ublic

of K

orea

Chi

na

Indi

a

Sin

gapo

re

Sou

th A

frica

Bra

zil

Mex

ico

Egy

pt

Mal

aysi

a

Col

ombi

a

Cub

a

Phi

lippi

nes

Arg

entin

a

Mor

occo

Kaz

akhs

tan

The Office of the PCT

• 121,264 applications filed in 2004 • Taking up over 1.8 km of shelving space • Processed by less than 500 employees

Processing International Applications at the International Bureau

Receipt of applications and related documents

Data capture

Formality examination and issuing notifications to applicants and national and regional Offices

PCT Publication

Communication of documents to designated and elected Offices

(national phase)

New developments in the PCT

Paper-less filing of international applications• Electronic dossier• PCT Communication System (COR)• Electronic Document Interchange

The Smart Patenting Solution