Inventions in the US Patent Institute in USA, is protected only within the borders of US. If it is desired to protect the invention outside the borders of America, the country or region where protection is claimed in the patent application should be done. Foreign patent applications are of great importance, especially for companies exporting to foreign markets.
The important issue here is that applications must be made abroad within 12 months from the first application (Priority Period). It will not be possible to obtain a patent abroad after 12 months from the first application date. In applications without priority, the first application will negatively affect the renewal of subsequent applications.
Generally, foreign patent applications can be made in 3 ways;
- National patent application,
- Regional patent applications (the most common is the European Patent Application)
- International patent application (PCT)
National Patent Application
National patent application is the patent applications made to the authorized institutions in the countries where the invention is desired to be protected. Fees in national patent applications differ from country to country due to the differences in the legislation of the country applied for. In general, national patent applications may be preferred if the number of countries where the invention is desired to be protected is less than 3.
Following your request for the national patent application, you are informed about the fees and the process by getting detailed information about the wages and the process from the proxy companies, which are our solution partners in the relevant countries. Following your approval, patent application processes are initiated in your respective countries as you can see on this https://midhudsonnews.com/2020/05/10/how-does-inventhelp-support-new-inventors/ post.
Regional Patent Applications
Regional patent applications are patent applications for all countries in a particular region. The most common is that Turkey is also a member of the European Patent Application. Apart from the European Patent application, two groups of African countries, the OAPI patent application and the ARIPO patent application, are the patent application system of African countries and the Eurasian patent applications are other regional application systems.
European Patent Application (EP)
European patent application, the European Patent Convention to which Turkey is a signatory to the side covers 36 countries. The Authorized Office is the European Patent Office. Applications and transactions made in the European Patent Office to cover the member countries are carried out in a single language. If a patent is obtained after research and investigation at the European Patent Office, this patent may be valid in all member countries. However, after the patent is obtained, validation is required in every country.
International Patent Application (PCT)
International Patent application is a patent application process for 142 member countries. The International Patent application system is not a system that results in a patent, it brings only a certain period (30th month from the date of first application or priority if any) by jointly executing the process for all member countries.
The International Patent application (PCT Patent Application) is filed in a single language, a patent research report is issued, which will be valid for all member states, and a patent preliminary examination report, which will be valid for all member states, if desired as stated in https://vocal.media/journal/innovating-as-a-small-business. With these reports, the applicant continues the application process by entering the countries where the application wishes to continue.