How to Protect Inventions Internationally with the PCT

Start-ups and SMEs are one of the core building blocks of high-tech clusters, such as the Silicon Valley. Technology-intensive SMEs are powerhouses of innovation and essential drivers of economic development in all modern economies.

These start-ups and SMEs design, develop and commercialize disruptive high-risk technologies with high-payoff potential. On their pathway to the market, they need to incorporate upfront an intellectual property (IP) strategy into their business plans.

These days, the market capitalization of a high-tech start-up or SME is based on its IP portfolio, which is often mostly composed of patents.

Video: An introduction to the International Patent System.

Five ways SMES can benefit from the PCT

SMEs seeking to protect their technologies in international markets can benefit from WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) to:

1. Streamline international protection

2. Facilitate foreign partnerships

3. Postpone major costs

4. Identify pre-existing technology

5. Create licensing opportunities

Through the PCT, it is also possible to create licensing opportunities. Applicants may request WIPO to publish information about their willingness to license their invention (as disclosed in their PCT application) to interested parties. This free-of-charge service is very useful as companies that use PATENTSCOPE (WIPO's patent database of over 90 million PCT applications and national and regional patent documents) may be interested in licensing these inventions even before they are patented. The service creates an opportunity for start-ups and SMEs to share the burden of the cost of patenting an invention in each country (so-called national phase entry fees) with larger companies as part of the licensing agreement. The licensing request form can be completed and filed at any time during the international processing of the PCT application.

More on the PCT System

Interested in filing a PCT application?

File an application, from anywhere and at any time via ePCT.