What are the PCT member countries?

Does an international PCT patent application cover the whole world?

No, a PCT application does not cover every country. Here is a list of non-member countries. Depending upon your foreign patent goals, there is a good probability that the member PCT countries are sufficient for you.

Which PCT countries make sense for you?

As you might expect, the countries having the largest foreign markets are members of the PCT.

In Asia, member countries include China, Japan and S. Korea. Taiwan, however, is not a member.

For countries known for manufacturing, members include India, Indonesia, Phillipines, Thailand, Vietnam and more.

To cover Europe, you can file a PCT application and then file a national stage application with the European Patent Office (EPO). Note that you do not need to file individual national stage applications in each desired European country. A single national stage application filed with the EPO would cover all EPO member countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and more.

Here is a list of member states.

PCT as another US option?

For US applicants, you might not think of the PCT as a way to keep the door open to filing another US patent application. Yet, you certainly can. In fact, you can use the PCT application as a strategy for discovering the relevant prior art sooner and then amending your US claims accordingly.

Should you file a PCT application?

In a nutshell, a PCT application does at least two things. First, it buys time. When you file a PCT application, the deadline to file in foreign countries gets extended from 12 months to 30 months from the priority date. So the PCT buys you 18 months of additional time. Deferring foreign patent costs by one and a half years can be critical.

Second, a PCT application leaves options open. Initially, you might not know which foreign markets would have the most potential. Suppose you found out later that it would really make sense to be patent-pending in certain Asian and European countries. Without the PCT, the deadline to make that decision would have passed at the 1-year anniversary of your priority date. By filing a PCT application, you still have time to enter those foreign markets. The PCT keeps the door open to foreign markets for a longer period of time.

Need help in getting patent protection in foreign PCT countries?

We work with foreign associates in all major international markets. Contact patent attorney Vic Lin by email or call (949) 223-9623 to find out how we can help you obtain patent protection in the countries that make the most sense for your invention.

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Frenda Williams
Frenda Williams
2023-02-21
I have had the pleasure of working with Vic and his team at Innovation Capital Law Group on Trademark creation and contracts. As a solo and non-tech founder, the assistance, guidance and recommendations from Vic and his team have been INVALUABLE. And, with the knowledge that I have a Solid, well versed and caring legal team I can turn to, I have the confidence I need to navigate the intricacies of the tech industry as a solo founder. With that being said, If you’re a startup and you’re looking for a legal team that speaks your language, knows the industry and makes you feel like family…. Innovation Capital Law Group is a Perfect fit for you, your company and your team. Five out of Five Stars… don’t let their brilliance blind you 😁
Shiwei Liu
Shiwei Liu
2023-02-20
Excellent service and quick response. Lots of informative documents on its website.
Chang Chien Michael
Chang Chien Michael
2023-02-20
I have worked with iCap for more than 7 years. I am very glad with his professional knowledge that 7 utility patents were granted by USPTO. Vic and his team are very efficient and knowledgeable. Every time he can transcribe my design idea perfectly in two weeks and file it with no rejection from USPTO. The other service including the granted patent following up is always in time to remind me to take actions. That is why I still stick on iCap as my first priority when I want to file a US patent.
Mats Johansson
Mats Johansson
2023-02-20
We have been happy client for 10+ years. Awesome Patent Law Firm!
Hanson Chang
Hanson Chang
2023-02-16
Glad to write a review for Innovation Capital Law Group. We previously worked with a big law firm (2200 employees) on our patents, and decided to shift over to Innovation Capital. It was a great decision, this team got our patents done faster, more effectively, at a lower cost, and with broader claims. Win all around
Genevieve Springer
Genevieve Springer
2022-09-09
Clear, discernible tools and strategies couched within a business conceived from a genuine interest in doing right by founders.
InPlay Inc
InPlay Inc
2022-06-30
Vic and his team have been providing us with the best patent application experiences we could ever have in our entire career life! Their professionalism and technical knowledge have really saved us a lot of communication effort and time on the applications. Definitely highly recommend if anyone is looking for help with IP protection for their business.
Meg Crowley
Meg Crowley
2022-03-05
After working with Vic and his team at Innovation Capital Law Group, our organization is confident our trademarks were solid and protected. Thank you team.
Andy Dong
Andy Dong
2022-02-28
I have been using Innovation Capital Law Group for a few years and continue to use them. They have provided an excellent services on our legal issues including intellectual properties and patents . They are very responsive, easy to work with and very competent . I highly recommend them.

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