The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions, helps patent Offices with their patent granting decisions, and facilitates public access to a wealth of technical information relating to those inventions. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in 148 countries throughout the world. Read more about the PCT.
150 PCT Contracting States
How to file your application
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- Treaty, Regulations and Administrative Instructions
Treaty
Regulations
Administrative Instructions - Guidelines for Authorities and Offices
- Legal Text Index (July 1, 2015) Archives
- Reservations and Incompatibilities
- Official Notices (PCT Gazette) Collection
- Amendments to the Regulations (July 1, 2016)
Archives - FAQs
- ISA and IPEA Agreements
- PATENTSCOPE
PATENTSCOPE Resources
States
- PCT Contracting States
- States bound by the Paris Convention but not the PCT
- States Party to PCT/Paris/WTO
- Time Limits for Entering National/Regional Phase
- Types of Protection
- Regional Patents via the PCT
- Restoration of the Right of Priority
- Waivers: Powers of Attorney
- Access to IPER under Rule 94.1(c)
- International applications and national security considerations
- IPO Closed Dates
Filing
- ePCT for Offices
Getting started for Offices
Office user Guide
What’s new for Offices? - Quality Reports by International Authorities
- PCT Office Feedback Survey 2014-2015
- Forms for Offices
- Data Services for Offices
- Minimum Documentation: Patents and Non-Patent Literature
- Information Concerning Emergency Preparedness Plans
- PCT Circulars
How to
File your application
Manage your application
ePCT private services provides online access to the file of your international application and a suite of functions to facilitate monitoring and managment during the international phase.
Search published applications
Published international applications are available on PATENTSCOPE, one of WIPO's global databases. This database also includes patent documents from 41 participating Offices providing public access, free of charge to over 50 million technology disclosures.
Contacts
Questions relating to specific international applications
Questions relating to specific international applications should preferably be uploaded through ePCT: (this may be done through ePCT public services, which does not require you to obtain a digital certificate) or sent by facsimile: +41-22 338 82 70, or you can contact the "authorized officer" directly.
General or legal questions about the PCT
Tel: +41 22 338 8338
Fax: +41 22 338 8339
E-mail: PCT Information Service
Questions about filing a PCT application at the receiving Office of the International Bureau
Tel: +41 22 338 9222
Fax: +41 22 910 0610
E-mail: PCT receiving Office
Questions about e-filing with PCT-SAFE, ePCT and DAS
Tel: +41 22 338 9523
E-mail: PCT eServices
Available from Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 6.00 pm CET
More about the PCT
General information
Meetings and documents
Training
- Learn the PCT Video Series
- PCT Distance Learning Course
- Seminars
- PCT Webinars
Reference
- Treaty, Regulations and Administrative Instructions
- Guidelines for Authorities and Offices
- Forms
- EQE Candidates
- Washington Diplomatic Conference on the PCT
- Common Application Format
- Directives for New Equivalent Amounts of Certain PCT Fees
- PCT Glossary
- PCT Case Law Database
- History of the PCT Regulations
- PCT Yearly Review
Related Links
Patents
- Patents
- Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)
- WIPO Policy Guide: Alternatives in Patent Search and Examination