There are three main ways to apply for overseas patents: Paris Convention, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and direct application. Enterprises can choose the appropriate application route according to the number of patent applications, application area, maintenance period and other factors.
1. Paris pact approach
Within 12 months (invention or utility model) /6 months (design) after filing the national patent application for the first time, the applicant may directly file an application with the patent authorities of other member countries of the Paris Convention, and may claim priority.
2.PCT pathway
An application written in Chinese or English shall be submitted directly to China National Intellectual Property Administration (Acceptance Bureau) within 12 months from the priority date, and the application shall have the effect of formal national application in all PCT member countries from the international application date. The applicant shall submit the translation of the application to several national patent offices wishing to obtain a patent within 30 months from the priority date.
These are the main ways to apply for overseas patents. To know that patents are regional, enterprises should determine the areas that need patent protection on a global scale according to the needs of participating in market competition and choose the most valuable market to allocate patents. Moreover, there are many materials that need to be prepared in the process of overseas patent application. If you want to know all about it, you can consult online customer service.
Patent application channel international patent application