A History of International Patent Law
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The scope of patents up until the late 19th century have been confined to a national level, each country governing their own patent rules and regulations. As the Industrial Revolution age matured, however, there were many pushes to formulate a standard set of international patent law.
The Industrial Revolution pushed new ideas and inventions forward and allowed for this innovative work to be displayed around the world. Ideas spread faster than ever by the late 1800s, giving rise to patent right concerns among those at the forefront of innovation.
A large amount of inventors refused to display their creations at world fairs and exhibitions for fear that their work would be copied in anther country where patent laws were not valid. At this point, a trend began to emerge that would lead to a global acknowledgment of universal international patent law.
Patent Cooperation Treaty:
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was a fundamental part of international patent law, put into effect in 1970. It provides a procedure for having patent applications filed to enlist protections in all contracting States. Under the rules of PCT, a patent application filed through this system is called an international application.
The treaty was signed into effect in Washington D.C., United States with 18 initial contracting States. The main advantage for filing a PCT international patent application is to delay the national procedures and costs in each respective State as long as possible during the entire duration of the application process. Contact patent lawyers to review your case.
