When you invent something new, you may want to sell it or at least license it to others. This can be a great way for a creative inventor to make some money, but why limit your business to the United States? When you take advantage of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, you can bring your invention to multiple countries all at once! A California multitool patent lawyer can tell you more about how this works.
What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty?
The Patent Cooperation Treaty makes it possible to file for a patent in a large number of countries at the same time. There are more than 150 countries that are members of this treaty, giving inventors the chance to break into a variety of markets with the right product or new method.
If you want to make use of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, you can file an application using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Electronic System. Your application remains under the control of the USPTO, but it gets passed along to an international body that can do searches to see if your invention is novel enough to receive protection.
Why Take Advantage of the Patent Cooperation Treaty?
You can take advantage of the Patent Cooperation Treaty whether you are running a major corporation or you’re just an individual inventor. It’s almost always one of the best ways to secure patent protection in multiple countries in a short period of time. You could also save a significant amount of money since many who apply under the PCT are also eligible to take advantage of reduced fees.
The international search report can also make it easier to learn about the potential of your invention in different countries. Knowing more about the market of each country can allow you to focus your business on the most profitable and promising ventures.
If your invention ends up not meeting the standards for a patent, using the PCT will tell you that faster. This doesn’t just save you time. It saves you the money you might have spent jumping through hoops to apply for patent protection in a variety of countries.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Applying for patents can be time-consuming, which is why some inventors choose to get the help of an attorney. This can be an especially wise idea if you are planning to apply through the PCT and you’ve never done that before. Our experienced attorneys can answer your questions and help you make the best possible case for your patent.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
If you have something that you want to patent, don’t waste any time. Contact Burns Patent Law and schedule an appointment with our attorneys. We can help you figure out how to protect your invention and intellectual property.
