The Smart Patenting Solution

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The Smart Patenting Solution
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What is the PCT?

• The PCT features
• simple procedure
• single application
• economical patent protection

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Who is it for?

• The PCT is used by
• applicants
• inventors
• patent offices

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PCT Contracting States (18 on 28 January 1978)
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PCT Contracting States (126 on 1 April 2005)
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PCT Membership
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The PCT System
0
File local application
(months)
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The PCT System
12
0
File PCT application
(months)
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The PCT System
12
16
0
Receive international search report written
opinion
(months)
10
The PCT System
International publication
12
18
16
0
(months)
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The PCT System
12
18
22
16
0
(optional) File demand forinternational
preliminary examination
(months)
12
The PCT System
12
18
22
28
16
0
(optional) Receive international preliminary
report on patentability
(months)
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The PCT System
Enter national phase
30
12
18
22
28
16
0
(months)
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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

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What are those large initial costs?

• The traditional patenting system features
• translation fees
• local patent Office fees
• local patent agents fees

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When are these costs incurred?
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Traditional patent system vs. PCT system
Traditional patent system
PCT system
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Traditional patent system vs. PCT system
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0
Traditional patent system
File local application
File applications abroad
12
0
PCT system
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Traditional patent system vs. PCT system
Pay fees for translations, patent Office and
patent agents
12
0
Traditional patent system
File local application
File applications abroad
12
0
PCT system
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Traditional patent system vs. PCT system
Pay fees for translations, patent Office and
patent agents
12
0
Traditional patent system
File local application
File applications abroad
30
12
0
PCT system
Enter national phase
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Traditional patent system vs. PCT system
Pay fees for translations, patent Office and
patent agents
12
0
Traditional patent system
File local application
Pay fees for translations, patent Office and
patent agents
File applications abroad
30
12
0
PCT system
Enter national phase
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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)

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Developing Countries Top 15 Filers in 2004
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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

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Processing International Applications at the
International Bureau
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New developments in the PCT

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

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The Smart Patenting Solution