While called "international" patent, not all
countries are covered.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), commonly referred
to as International Patent, provides a common application
mechanism for inventors wishing to protect their inventions around
the world.
The PCT is useful because it allows inventors to have access to
an International Search Report, which provides a non-binding
opinion on the patentability requirements, allowing them to know if
the patent has a greater chance of being granted, if it should be
withdrawn or if amendments are necessary to further differentiate
it from the current state of the art.
On a more procedural perspective, the PCT created a process of
standardization of proceedings, forms and relevant deadlines,
across IP Offices of all contracting parties, culminating in a
total of 30-month* for the applicant to choose the
countries where protection for his invention should really be
sought, counting from the date of first application
