Article 2 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty stipulates that "application" includes inventions and utility models, and there is no design.
superiority
1. Unified PCT patent application: An international patent application can be filed in one place (China) in one language and one format, and the fee can be paid in one currency, that is, the patent organizations in its member countries or regions can obtain the same effect as the patent application in one country or region.
2. Enjoy priority as soon as possible: international applications can be submitted nearby (China Patent Office), and PCT applications can be submitted in their own languages. Therefore, the applicant can file an application at the last moment of the priority period, which makes it easier to submit an international application and enjoy priority.
3. The applicant can obtain the international search report about 9 months from the date of application or about 16 months from the priority date; The applicant can also obtain the preliminary examination report within 28 months from the date of application or the priority date (if the applicant requests the international preliminary examination within the prescribed time limit), and the applicant can decide whether to enter the national phase according to the existing technology obtained from the above two reports.
PCT applications can be delayed for 8 months or 18 months to enter the national phase, which is undoubtedly beneficial to those applicants who are not ready.
Extended data:
PCT does not grant "international patents": the task and responsibility of granting patents can still only be undertaken by patent offices in various countries seeking patent protection or institutions (designated offices) exercising their functions and powers.
The receiving office shall take the date of receipt of the international application as the date of international application, provided that the receiving office determines that the application meets the following requirements when receiving the application:
1. The applicant obviously lacks the right to file an international application with the receiving office because of his residence or nationality;
2. The international application is written in the prescribed language;
3. An international application shall at least include the following items:
(1) Description is filed as an international application;
(2) Designation of at least one Contracting State;
(3) State the name of the applicant in the prescribed way;
(4) Some surfaces look like instructions;
(5) Some parts seem to be one or several claims.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Patent Cooperation Treaty