PCT Patent Application

What Is a PCT Patent Registration?

The PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) patent application is an international patent filing system adopted in 1970. The treaty was set up to simplify and lower the cost of patent filings in its member countries. When valid, this application allows you to seek patent protection in each of the 154 member countries (within 30 months).

The main advantage of a PCT patent application is that the applicant does not prepare a separate search report and examination report for each country, saving time and cost.

Cost Advantages:

• Centralized filing system: The PCT offers a single international application that is valid across all treaty member countries. That saves the cost of filing separately in each country.
• Savings in the evaluation process: With a single international preliminary search report, you avoid the cost of repeating the same search in each country.
• Strategic planning: A PCT application gives you up to 30 months of added time to plan which countries to seek patents in. In that window, you can decide where you want patents and avoid unnecessary costs.

Other Benefits:

• International evaluation: The international preliminary search report gives early feedback on whether your invention is patentable. This lets you spot potential issues before the later stages.
• Flexibility: An optional second preliminary examination is available. This is a chance to strengthen patentability or make your application more specific.
• Protection: A PCT application provides provisional protection across all treaty member countries. That lets you promote the invention and approach commercial partners with provisional cover in place.
• International recognition: The PCT has 150+ member countries. Your application therefore receives broad international recognition and acceptance.
• Fewer language barriers: Your application may only need to be submitted in a few languages (e.g., English, French, German), which lowers translation costs.

PCT Patent Terms

Another important aspect of the PCT process is the exemption periods. Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the applicant files with TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) directly or by appointing an agent within 30 months from the priority date (if any) or from the international filing date. The 30-month period is followed by an additional three-month grace period. If the application is not filed within that additional three-month period, the PCT Regulations set out the steps required for the exemption period:

When the requirements above are met, applicants can extend the filing deadlines in specific countries.

PCT Member Country List

The following list covers the countries that are parties to the PCT, where a single filing can secure patent protection.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Albania
• Armenia
• Angola
• African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
• Austria
• Australia
• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Barbados
• Bulgaria
• Bahrain
• Brunei Darussalam
• Brazil
• Botswana
• Belarus
• Belize
• Canada
• Switzerland
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Cabo Verde
• Czechia
• Germany
• Djibouti
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Algeria
• Eurasian Patent Organization
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• Egypt
• European Patent Organization
• Spain
• Finland
• United Kingdom
• Grenada
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Gambia
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Indonesia
• Israel
• India
• Iraq
• Iran (Islamic Republic of)
• Iceland
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Japan
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Cambodia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea
• Republic of Korea
• Kuwait
• Kazakhstan
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Saint Lucia
• Sri Lanka
• Liberia
• Lesotho
• Luxembourg
• Libya
• Morocco
• Republic of Moldova
• Madagascar
• North Macedonia
• Mongolia
• Mauritius
• Malawi
• Mexico
• Malaysia
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• New Zealand
• African Intellectual Property Organization
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Serbia
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda
• Saudi Arabia
• Seychelles
• Sudan
• Sweden
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Sierra Leone
• Sao Tome and Principe
• El Salvador
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Thailand
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Republic of Tanzania
• Ukraine
• Uganda
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Vietnam
• Samoa
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Where Can a PCT International Application Be Filed?

There are two ways to file a PCT application.

1. Online Filing Through an Appointed Patent Agent

The patent agent you appoint files online on your behalf with TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) through the PCT-Filing system. Access to the e-PCT service is through an existing WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Account.

2. Filing Through Paper Forms

As the attorney firm, we request a set of documents from you. With the requested forms and the description, we file on your behalf with TÜRKPATENT in paper form.

• Documents required for a PCT patent application:
• PCT Receiving Office Application Form
• PCT/RO/101 International Application Request
• International Patent Application Support Form (required if the TÜBITAK incentive is being used)
• PCT application fees

Why File Your PCT Patent Application With Sistem Patent

Why Sistem Patent?

A PCT patent application is a vital step in securing international protection for your invention. Sistem Patent makes that process straightforward and efficient for you.

If you are considering international protection for your invention, we make the process smooth and straightforward. We understand the value of your inventions and we are here to protect them well. Contact us now to start your international patent application.