Locher, Piper & Partner - Locher, Piper & Partner

Our patent law firm WAGNER & GEYER has today filed our patent application for the international phase (PCT application) at the European Patent Office.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in a large number of countries.

The international phase consists of five stages: the first three steps consist of the filing of the international application by the applicant and its processing by the “receiving Office”, the establishment of the international search report and written opinion by one of the “International Searching Authorities”, and the publication of the international application together with the international search report by the International Bureau of WIPO.

The fourth step includes the establishment of a supplementary international search, which may be carried out by one or more of the International Searching Authorities, resulting in the establishment of a supplementary international search report.

The optional fifth step involves what is known as international preliminary examination, and is concluded with the establishment of the international preliminary report on by one of the “International Preliminary Examining Authorities”.

On completion of the international phase, further action is required before and in each of the national (or regional) Offices which the applicant wishes to grant him a patent on the basis of his international application.