Can I get a Worldwide Patent?

Here’s a question patent attorneys are asked often. What if I want to protect my invention all over the world? Can I get a worldwide patent? The answer is no. But there is such a thing as the PCT, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, a patent application that covers most of the countries around the globe. However, The PCT application does not mature into a patent, per se. After 30 months of the first filing, you will need to decide in which individual countries or regions you want to nationalize the application and receive a patent. This is primarily a strategic question as to which markets are most interesting for your product, but it is also a question of cost. The more countries or regions you select, the more expensive the nationalization. Your patent attorney will help and guide you through the selection process. If you have more questions, we suggest consulting with an experienced intellectual property attorney.