PCT patent application process and time limit:
1. When applying, the applicant may file a Chinese version of the PCT international application in China National Intellectual Property Administration, China within 12 months from the filing date of the earlier application in China, claiming the priority of China, without submitting the certificate of priority.
2. The applicant can choose a PCT member country before the expiration of 30 months from the priority date and apply for its national patent to the patent office of that country. When the PCT international application enters the national stage, it is necessary to translate the application documents into the official language of the applicant country. (In most foreign countries, utility model patents can be authorized without substantive examination. Some countries do not have utility model patents: for example, the United States, Canada, Britain and so on.
PCT international patent application should pay attention to:
1. Where an applicant applies for a foreign patent, he shall file a patent application with the Chinese Patent Office before applying for a foreign patent.
2. Applicants can apply for patents in China and abroad through PCT. An applicant may file a PCT international application for the first time, and the designated country of the application shall include China.
3.PCT international applications can only be patents for inventions or utility models, and design applications cannot be submitted through PCT channels.
4. The patent applicant can only apply for a patent through PCT, but can't obtain a patent directly through PCT. In order to obtain a patent in a certain country, the applicant must also go through the formalities of entering the country, and the patent office of that country will examine the patent application. If it meets the requirements of the reformed patent law, a patent right shall be granted.