PCT Yearly Review - 2014 Edition

WIPO, the organisational body which oversees Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international applications, has released its PCT Yearly Review, 2014 edition, which provides a treasure trove of PCT statistics for 2013. This year’s review reveals growth in key areas of the PCT system, with increases in: - the number of applications filed (205,000, +5%) - the number of national phase entries (540,000, +6%) - the number of applicants using the PCT (45,600, +1%) - the number of member states (148 – 2 newly added in 2013) The US remains the largest filer of PCT applications. Moreover it has finally exceeded, for the first time, its pre-financial crisis level of filings of 2007. Japan keeps its second position but China has now overtaken Germany to become the third largest user of the PCT system. In spite in a slight reduction in the number of PCT filings originating from the UK, it keeps its top 10 spot, coming in at number 7. Interestingly, the review reveals that the top 5 countries/regions for national phase entries are: US, Europe, China, Japan and Korea. This year’s PCT review contains a special theme about how universities and public research organizations (PROs) use the PCT system, and includes a detailed breakdown of statistics relating to PCT filings by universities and PROs. For further information on PCT filings in 2013 see here. A summary of the key figures is provided in this infographic. As many readers may know, a PCT international patent application is a single patent application that can be filed which facilitates the filing of patent applications in close to 150 countries. A PCT application does not directly of itself result in the grant of foreign patents. Instead national/regional patent applications, derived from the PCT application, must be filed and prosecuted before their respective national/regional patent offices. Notwithstanding this, a PCT application can be useful in delaying the costs of filing foreign patent applications in a large number of countries. Moreover, before the national/regional patent applications must be filed from the PCT application, an international search report is issued. The international search report is accompanied by a written opinion regarding the patentability of the invention. This can provide an insight into the chances of ultimately securing patent protection and help make the decision concerning national/regional patent application filings.

For more details, please get in touch with your usual contact at Swindell & Pearson Ltd or Martin Terry at [email protected]. Martin is based in the East Midlands, at our head office in Derby.