Category: International

In the global market, today’s prudent company must evaluate patent protection for its innovative products or services. In doing so, the question arises as to which countries a patent application will be submitted. The general rule of thumb is that a business would evaluate patent protection in countries where the technology is manufactured, marketed, and sold. But that still begs the question, in which countries will those activities occur. Those questions are often not known early in the stage of innovation. Furthermore, the America Invents Act first to file provisions mean that companies will likely file at the earliest possibility in order to have the earliest priority date. In a field of technology, such as chemistry, the innovative compound and synthesis may have occurred in the laboratory, but the profitability of large scale production, precursors for the commercialization, and target markets remain unknown. The costs for filing foreign patent applications can be high. Such costs can include official fees to the foreign country, translation costs which are necessary in most countries, as well as service fees for local agents or patent attorneys. When the innovative technology is in its infant stages, it difficult to know which countries in which to submit a patent application.

 

The dominant methods for multinational patent filings include the Paris Convention and PCT international patent applications. Under the Paris Convention, the decision as to where to file foreign applications must be made within one year from the date of the original United States filing. Contrast this with the PCT “international” patent application. By filing an international patent application under the PCT, you effectively defer the need for selecting and filing in the target countries by up to 30 or 31 months from the priority date, that is to say the earliest filing date of an earlier filed provisional patent application, earlier filed nonprovisional patent application, or the filing date of the PCT application. By filing an international application you will get an additional 18 months before it is necessary to decide on the specific countries on which to enter.

 

In order to take advantage of the additional time, the company would evaluate the technology, evaluate possible countries for filing, and prioritize countries for filing. Specific actions might include, evaluating the distinguishing features of the invention, determining the value of the technology to the business, researching competing technologies, assessing market potential and segments within the countries, and gauging patent laws and enforceability of the countries. Those and other actions could easily consume more than twelve months. The additional eighteen month deferral is generally to the company’s benefit. But note that the 30 month period is the latest possible date to file. The applicant need not wait the full 30 months. To illustrate, the full rights of the patent grant do not vest until the patent application is successfully prosecuted through the patent office of the country. Thus it may be desirable to initiate the examination process earlier. In another scenario, the applicant may wish to stagger the time period over which the patent applications (and associated costs) are directed to the selected countries.

 

In closing, the cost of filing the PCT is actually an additional cost. Eventually, the inventor will still have to pay the national filing fees for the selected countries. However, the option to defer those national filing fees for an additional 18 months can provide the advantage of making a more informed decision in selecting countries.

Patents are granted on a country by country basis. If a company is considering “international” patent protection, that is to say patent applications in multiple countries, there are two primary approaches:

1. Filing patent applications on a country by country basis directly in the patent office of those countries – This can present several concerns. First, it forces the company to select the target countries early, prepare the patent applications, and pay the fees for each selected country early in the process. At this early stage of product development, the company may not yet know which countries are desirable for pursuing patent rights. Furthermore, there are timing issues in filing the patent applications in each country which must be followed to avoid the loss of patent rights. Fortunately, agreements such as the Paris Convention permit a one year timespan for filing of the patent applications within the multinational patent family instead of having to file all of the applications on one day.

2. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) streamlines and provides more flexibility in the filing and expenses of multiple patent applications compared to direct filings in the national patent offices. Using the PCT procedure, the applicant initially needs only to file a single patent application in the receiving office for which the applicant is eligible. This initial filing accords the applicant a single international filing date and preserves the option to direct this patent application to selected PCT member countries at a later stage. Although more than 125 countries are currently a party to the PCT, the company should confirm that its likely target countries are parties to the PCT. Notable non-member countries in Asia include Taiwan and in South America include Argentina.

After the PCT patent application is filed, the International Search Authority (commonly the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office, or the Korean Patent Office) will perform a search on the PCT patent application for the most relevant prior art and deliver a written report regarding the patentability of the subject invention. This international search report can help the applicant to decide whether it would be worthwhile to seek national protection, and if so, in which countries. Optionally, while still in this international stage, the applicant may amend the application and “demand” a preliminary examination by an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA). This is typically requested when the initial search report is not favorable.

The applicant selects the desired PCT member states before moving into the next stage (“national” or “regional”), where the international application and the search results are transmitted to patent office of the selected countries. Typically within 30 months from the filing date of the international patent application, the applicant continues the patent application process in the desired countries, where the patent application will be examined according to the patent laws and procedures of each of those selected countries. It is at this stage where the cost of preparation and fees multiply based on the number of countries selected, due to translations, revisions, filing fees, and other expenses. During the examination, some patent offices place great weight on the ISA and IPEA search reports (often saving time and money) while others will perform their own search. The applicant then prosecutes the application until the patent is hopefully granted.

Each of the two primary international filing approaches has advantages and disadvantages, especially in light of the business plan. The PCT patent application can preserve the option for  filing in many countries for a relatively low upfront cost. It also effectively permits more time to select target countries and more flexibility on the timing of the spending. Additionally, the PCT option can be combined with other agreements such as the patent prosecution highway. This makes the PCT an effective tool in international intellectual property strategy.