Patents are territorial, granting rights only in the country of filing. The Paris Convention ensures equal rights across member countries. Choose a filing method based on the number of countries targeted.

File at the national intellectual property office of the target country. Check WIPO’s directory for global IP offices.

File with a regional IP organization for multiple countries in one application, using limited languages, valid for all or select member countries based on your needs.

For multiple countries worldwide, use the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), covering member countries.

An invention must be novel, involve an inventive step, and have industrial application. See WIPO’s patent definition.

Ensure the invention hasn’t been described previously. Check using WIPO’s services:

Filing a patent involves costs for applications, administration, counterfeit monitoring, and legal protection. Ensure sufficient financial and human resources.

• Patent grants exclusive rights for limited time
• Strategic weapon for market positioning
• Patent is a territorial right
• Must be novel, inventive, and industrially applicable
• Consider budget and resources for monitoring

• WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
• PCT System: Patent Cooperation Treaty
• PATENTSCOPE: Search international patents
• Paris Convention: Industrial property protection