Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an effective international agreement for filing patent applications in many countries/regions in the world. Although the PCT system does not provide "international patents", it simplifies the process of filing patent applications, delays the related expenses of applying for patent protection abroad, and gives inventors more time to evaluate the feasibility of commercialization of their inventions. According to PCT, inventors can file an international patent application with the Patent Office in one language, so as to seek protection for an invention in PCT member countries at the same time.