Strategy PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA

Transcription

1 Strategy There are several possible strategies when filing patent applications covering more than one country. Although the protection afforded by one or the other option may be comparable or even identical, the choice of strategy may have considerable impact on the costs and notably on their distribution over time. This document explains the differences between five popular strategies. 1 > Swiss Patent Application 2 > Direct European Patent Application 3 > Direct international (PCT) Application 4 > Application without fees 5 > International (PCT) Application claiming priority 6 > PCT Members 7 > EPO Members PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA

2 Option 1: Swiss Patent Application PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA Consultation Preliminary search Draft application FILE SWISS APPLICATION Search report (optional) APPLICATIONS CLAIMING PRIORITY Suspend Swiss Application EP SEARCH REPORT PUBLICATION EP, US, etc... EP examination request EP designations Examinations EP, US,etc... GRANT PROCEDURES Abandon Swiss Application Translation and validation of EP Patent Annuities EP EP-CH EP-DE EP-etc... US JP Other

3 Swiss Patent Application Recommended if: > The initial costs should be reduced > The invention does not fulfil the more stringent criteria of the European patent > An official EPO search report is desired before deciding on the countries to be protected > The invention could evolve considerably during the first 12 months; a definitive application should include these improvements > An effective protection of 21 years is desired > The text must be filed in Italian > The Swiss market is important and it is essential to obtain the best possible protection in this market To be avoided if: > The total cost for obtaining a European or international patent should be reduced; as the costs of the Swiss application are added to those of the European application, this solution will prove, after only 12 months already, more expensive than a direct European application > It is nearly certain that the invention will no longer evolve after filing; in this case, a direct European or international application is often more cost-effective > Conversely, it is practically certain that the invention will evolve much after filing; in this case, a provisional application is often more appropriate > A European patent is to be obtained quickly > Filing in English is desired

4 Option 2: Direct European Patent Application PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA Consultation Preliminary search Draft Application FILE EUROPEAN APPLICATION Search report APPLICATIONS CLAIMING PRIORITY PUBLICATION EP, US, etc... EP Examination request EP designations NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS GRANT PROCEDURES Translation and validation of EP Patent Annuities EP 24 EP-CH EP-DE EP-etc... US JP Other

5 Direct European Patent Application Recommended if: > The total costs for obtaining the patent should be reduced as much as possible > The risk of the application being abandoned soon is low > The probability that the invention evolves considerably during the first year is low > It is clear from the beginning that a patent limited to Switzerland is not sufficient > An official search report from the EPO is required at an early stage > An early grant is an advantage To be avoided if: > The initial costs should be reduced > The invention is likely to evolve after initial filing > The invention does not fulfil the rather stringent criteria of the European patent > An effective protection of 21 years rather than 20 is an advantage

6 Option 3: Direct International (PCT) Application PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA Consultation preliminary search Draft application FILE INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION Search report Applications in non-pct states claiming priority PUBLICATION PCT Examination request (optional) EXAMINATION REPORT (if requested) ENTRY IN NATIONAL PHASE National examinations GRANT PROCEDURES Translation and validation of EP patent Annuities EP TH EP-CH EP-DE EP-etc... US MY JP Other

7 Direct International (PCT) Application Recommended if: > The main costs should be deferred > Considerable expense is to be avoided during the first 30 months without having to give up the possibility of protecting the invention in a large number of countries > It is difficult to predict the success of the product and the risk of the invention becoming abandoned during the first 30 months is not negligible > The definitive selection of the countries in which the invention is to be protected should be deferred as long as possible > Protection is desired in a large number of countries; upwards of 15 countries, this strategy can prove more cost-effective > It is important to be able to budget the costs accurately during 30 months > A rejection is to be avoided at all costs during the first 30 months To be avoided if: > The initial costs should be reduced > The total costs until grant should be reduced > The countries in which the invention is to be protected can be selected early and are less than 15 > The invention is likely to evolve during the 12 months after filing and it is possible that the text will have to be made more complete > An early grant is an advantage > An effective protection of 21 years is desired

8 Option 4: Application without fees PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA Consultation Possibly prelim. search Draft Application FILE PROVISIONAL APPLICATION Application rejected after having generated a priority right APPLICATIONS CLAIMING PRIORITY Translations EP-Search report PUBLICATION EP, US, etc... EP examination request EP designations National examinations GRANT PROCEDURES Translation and validation of EP patent Annuities EP EP-CH EP-DE EP-etc... US JP Other

9 Application without fees (provisional application) Recommended if: > The initial costs should be reduced as much as possible > The time available does not allow for preparation of a definitive application > The invention will probably evolve after filing > The risk of the invention becoming abandoned during the first year is high > The US market is important and it is imperative to obtain the protection in the most efficient possible way (only for US provisional application) > An effective protection of 21 years is desired > The inventor has already disclosed the invention publicly but wishes to retain the possibility of obtaining protection at least for the USA (US provisional application) To be avoided if: > The total costs should be reduced; as the costs of the provisional application are added to those of the subsequent application(s), this solution will prove more expensive after only 12 months already > The invention is already quite advanced and the markets requiring protection are already well known > It is necessary to select the countries in which protection is sought after 12 months already or to file an international application > An official search report is required at an early stage before deciding on the definitive strategy > A flawless provisional protection is required, in particular during the first 12 months > An early grant is desired > Additional steps, notably for drafting the definitive application, after 12 months already should be avoided

10 Option 5: International (PCT) Application claiming priority PATENTS & TECHNOLOGY SURVEYS SA Consultation preliminary search Draft Application FILE PRIORITY APPLICATION (e.g. application without fees) SEARCH REPORT (optional) FILE PCT APPLICATION PCT - Designations Applications in non-pct states claiming priority PCT PUBLICATION Examination request (optional) SEARCH REPORT EXAMINATION REPORT (if requested) ENTRY IN NATIONAL PHASE Translations National examinations GRANT PROCEDURE Translation and validation of EP Patent Annuities EP TW EP-CH EP-DE EP-etc... US TH JP MY Other

11 International PCT Application claiming priority Recommended if: > All the costs must be deferred as long as possible > The initial costs must be reduced, for example by filing an initial application without fees > The costs at 12 months must be reduced > Considerable expense is to be avoided during the first 30 months without having to give up the possibility of protecting the invention in a large number of countries > It is difficult to predict the success of the product and the risk of the invention becoming abandoned during the first 30 months is not negligible > The definitive selection of the countries in which the invention is to be protected must be deferred as long as possible > The invention will certainly evolve further after filing and a definitive application after 12 months will have to include variants and improvements conceived in the meantime > The invention is designed to be sold but it might be difficult to find a buyer before 12 and even 30 months > The Swiss market is important and it is essential to obtain the best possible protection in this market (only for initial applications in Switzerland) > The invention s prospects on the international market are considerable or not yet well known > It is important to be able to budget the costs accurately during 30 months > An effective protection of 21 years is desired > A rejection is to be avoided at all costs during the first 30 months > The application is part of a wider patent portfolio and a considerably flexibility is essential To be avoided if: > The total costs until grant should be reduced > The countries in which the invention is to be protected can be selected early and are less than 15 > An early grant is an advantage

12 PCT Members Code Name Nom Name AE United Arab Emirates Emirats Arabes Unis Ver. Arabische Emirate AG Antigua and Barbuda Antigua et Barbuda Antigua und Barbuda AL Albania Albanie Albanien AM Armenia Arménie Armenien AT Austria Autriche Österreich AU Australia Australie Australien AZ Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Aserbaizhan BA Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnie Herzégovine Bosnien-Herzegowina BB Barbados Barbade Barbados BE Belgium Belgique Belgien BF Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso BG Bulgaria Bulgarie Bulgarien BJ Benin Bénin Benin BR Brazil Brésil Brasilien BW Botswana Botswana Botswana BY Belarus Bélarus Weissrussland BZ Belize Belize Belize CA Canada Canada Kanada CF Central African Repub. République Centrafricaine Zentralafr. Republik CG Congo Congo Kongo CH Switzerland Suisse Schweiz CI Ivory Coast Côte d'ivoire Elfenbeinküste CM Cameroon Cameroun Kamerun CN China Chine China CO Colombia Colombie Kolumbien CR Costa Rica Costa Rica Costa Rica CU Cuba Cuba Kuba CY Cyprus Chypre Zypern CZ Czech Republic République Tchèque Tschechische Republik DE Germany Allemagne Deutschland DK Denmark Danemark Dänemark DM Dominica Dominique Windward DZ Algeria Algérie Algerien EC Ecuador Equateur Ecuador EE Estonia Estonie Estland EG Egypt Egypte Ägypten ES Spain Espagne Spanien FI Finland Finlande Finnland FR France France Frankreich GA Gabon Gabon Gabon GB United Kingdom Grande-Bretagne Grossbritanien GD Grenada Grenade Grenada GE Georgia Géorgie Georgien GH Ghana Ghana Ghana GM Gambia Gambie Gambia GN Guinea Guinée Guinea GQ Equatorial Guinea Guinée équatoriale Äquatorial Guinea

13 PCT Members Code Name Nom Name GR Greece Grèce Griechenland GW Guinea-Bissau Guinée-Bissau Guinea-Bissau HN Honduras Honduras Honduras HR Croatia Croatie Kroatien HU Hungary Hongrie Ungarn ID Indonesia Indonésie Indonesien IE Ireland Irlande Irland IL Israel Israël Israel IN India Inde Indien IS Iceland Islande Island IT Italy Italie Italien JP Japan Japon Japan KE Kenya Kenya Kenya KG Kyrgyzstan Kirghizistan Kirgistan KM Comoros Comores Komoren KN St.Christopher& Navia Saint-Kitts-et-Nevis St. Christoph und Newis KP Korea (North) Corée du Nord Nordkorea KR South Korea Corée du Sud Süd Korea KZ Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Kazakstan LA Laos Laos Laos LC Saint Lucia Sainte Lucie Santa Lucia LI Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Liechtenstein LK Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka LR Liberia Libéria Liberia LS Lesotho Lesotho Lesotho LT Lithuania Lituanie Litauen LU Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxemburg LV Latvia Lettonie Lettland LY Libya Lybie Libyen MA Morocco Maroc Marokko MC Monaco Monaco Monaco MD Moldova Moldova Moldavien MG Madagascar Madagascar Madagascar MK Macedonia Macédonie Mazedonien ML Mali Mali Mali MN Mongolia Mongolie Mongolei MR Mauritania Mauritanie Mauritanien MW Malawi Malawi Malawi MX Mexico Mexique Mexico MY Malaysia Malaisie Malaysia MZ Mozambique Mozambique Mosambik NA Namibia Namibie Namibia NE Niger Niger Niger NG Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria NI Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua NL Netherlands Pays-Bas Niederlande NO Norway Norvège Norwegen NZ New Zealand Nouvelle Zélande Neuseeland OM Oman Oman Oman PG Papua New Guinea Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée Papua-Neuginea PH Philippines Philippines Philippinen PL Poland Pologne Polen

14 PCT Members Code Name Nom Name PT Portugal Portugal Portugal RO Romania Roumanie Rumänien RU Russian Federation Fédération de Russie Russland SC Seychelles Seychelles Seschellen SD Sudan Soudan Sudan SE Sweden Suède Schweden SG Singapore Singapour Singapur SI Slovenia Slovénie Slowenien SK Slovakia Slovaquie Slowakei SL Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Sierra Leone SM San Marino Saint-Marin San Marino SN Senegal Sénégal Senegal SV El Salvador El Salvador El Salvador SY Syria République Arabe Syrienne Syrien SZ Swaziland Swaziland Swasiland TD Tchad Tchad Tschad TG Togo Togo Togo TJ Tajikistan Tadjikistan Tadschikistan TM Turkmenistan Turkménistan Turkmenistan TN Tunisia Tunisie Tunesien TR Turkey Turquie Turkei TT Trinidad & Tobago Trinité et Tobago Trinidad und Tobago TZ Tanzania Tanzanie Tanzanien UA Ukraine Ukraine Ukranien UG Uganda Ouganda Uganda US USA Etats-Unis d'amérique USA UZ Uzbekistan Ouzbékistan Usbekistan VC Saint Vincent & Grenada Saint-Vincent et les Grenadine St. Vinzenz und Grenadinen VN Viet Nam Viet-Nam Vietnam YU Yugoslavia Yougoslavie Jugoslavien ZA South Africa Afrique du Sud Südafrika ZM Zambia Zambie Sambia ZW Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (132 on ) (132 au ) (132 am ) Aktuelle Liste auf unserer Website Liste à jour sur notre site web Please refer to our web site for an up-to-date list

15 EPC Members Code Adhesion Name Nom Name AT Austria Autriche Österreich BE Belgium Belgique Belgien BG Bulgaria Bulgarie Bulgarien CH Switzerland Suisse Schweiz CY Cyprus Chypre Zypern CZ Czech Republic République Tchèque Tschechische Republik DE Germany Allemagne Deutschland DK Denmark Danemark Dänemark EE Estonia Estonie Estland ES Spain Espagne Spanien FI Finland Finlande Finnland FR France France Frankreich GB United Kingdom Grande-Bretagne Grossbritanien GR Greece Grèce Griechenland HU Hungary Hongrie Ungarn IE Ireland Irlande Irland IS Iceland Islande Island IT Italy Italie Italien LI Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Liechtenstein LT Lithuania Lituanie Litauen LU Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxemburg MC Monaco Monaco Monaco NL Netherlands Pays-Bas Niederlande PL Poland Pologne Polen PT Portugal Portugal Portugal RO Romania Roumanie Rumänien SE Sweden Suède Schweden SI Slovenia Slovénie Slowenien SK Slovakia Slovaquie Slowakei TR Turkey Turquie Turkei Code Name Nom Name Adhesion Extensions states AL Albania Albanie Albanien BA Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnie Herzégovine Bosnien-Herzegowina CS Serbia and Montenegro Serbie et Montenegro Serbien und Montenegro HR Croatia Croatie Kroatien LV Latvia Lettonie Lettland MK Macedonia Macédonie Mazedonien Other Extensions possibilities HK Hong Kong (over GB) Hong Kong (über GB) Hong Kong (par brevet GB) Etat au Please refer to our web site for an up-to-date list

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