The Patent Cooperation Treaty or PCT is an international agreement for filing patent applications having effect in up to 151 countries.

Although the PCT system does not provide for the grant of an international patent, the system:

•     simplifies the process of filing patent applications
•     delays the expenses associated with applying for patent protection in other countries
•     and allows the inventor more time to assess the commercial viability of his/her invention.

Under the PCT, an inventor can file a single international patent application in one language with one patent office in order to simultaneously seek protection for an invention in up to 151 countries throughout the world.