File a PCT international application
Obtaining a European patent: the different filing options

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international agreement between 152 États contractants administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The PCT is unique in that it establishes an international system for filing patent applications. It does not, however, set up a system for granting international patents (this does not exist). The decision to grant a patent is taken at national level (or regional level, as in the case of the EPO).

Broadly speaking, the PCT provides for two phases:

• an "international" phase, when the international patent application is filed; in essence, this phase also includes a prior art search, publication of the application...