Utilising International Type Search to strengthen your IP strategy

Before diving into costly international patent applications, it's crucial to understand your options, and how to assess the viability of achieving a granted patent without overspending. This guide walks you through the strategic use of provisional patent applications, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and Australia's International Type Search (ITS).

A provisional patent application is often the first step in the long journey to obtaining a granted patent in a country of interest. The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property¹ provides that a provisional patent application filed in one country (a "basic" application) can establish the priority date for a complete (Paris Convention) application filed in another country, provided the complete application is filed within 12 months of the provisional application.