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The PCT patent application is a placeholder patent application that buys you more time to file your patent application internationally.
Basically, you have 12 months from either the filing of a provisional U.S. patent application or a utility U.S. patent application to file this PCT patent application as a placeholder for international filings. By filing the PCT patent application, you are able to delay international filings in individual countries for an additional 18 months beyond this 12 month time period (e.g., a total of 30 months from the filing of either your provisional U.S. patent application or your utility U.S. patent application, whichever is sooner. If you decide not to file a PCT patent application, you will lose your international filing rights for countries you do not internationally file in directly. This will occur immediately after 12 months of filing a patent application in the United States.
The PCT patent application follows an international treaty, called the Patent Cooperation Treaty (that’s where the name PCT comes from). This treaty has been signed by more than 128 countries around the world. Most major countries are signatories of this treaty, with perhaps a few exceptions such as Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Taiwan. Note: Filing fees for the PCT patent application are expensive (e.g., around $1850 U.S. dollars).
In the Plus Package, you receive enhanced formatting services for your U.S. patent application into PCT format, along with filing services with an International Receiving Office (e.g., the United States or Korea). In addition, you receive docket management services to send you reminders when you need to do things, such as when future deadlines may be to enter into ‘national phase’ in individual country members of the PCT treaty (usually about 18 months from the PCT filing).
Get started on it today!
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