Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) provides a centralized procedure for filing patent applications. It allows applicants to seek protection across multiple member states, including African countries that have joined the treaty.
Requirements: A PCT application must include a detailed description, claims, an abstract, and, where necessary, drawings.
Exam: WIPO coordinates the international search and preliminary examination, providing applicants with an overview of patentability. Each designated office then conducts its own examination during the national or regional phase.
Member State Implications: Membership in the PCT enables applicants to defer individual national filings, thus simplifying patent prosecution in numerous countries. Resulting granted patents remain subject to enforcement under local laws.