Patent Applications & The PCT Phase - Getting the Best Value

Introduction

The International (‘PCT’) phase can be an opportunity for a strategic pause in active prosecution of a patent application for 18 months or more, during which an applicant can develop their invention and monitor the likelihood of its success, before re-assessing the commercial value ahead of the costs of national phase entry.

Alternatively, and additionally, the PCT offers applicants opportunities to advance prosecution, to put the application in better shape for examination in the national phase.

This new virtual classroom seminar will explain how to get the best from the PCT phase, and especially IPE, by reference to cases in which the European Patent Office (‘EPO’) is International Preliminary Examining Authority (‘IPEA’). The session will help you to make an informed decision with a grasp of the options and careful weighing of the risks and rewards, as well as providing complementary practical advice on PCT Direct and the Patent Prosecution Highway.

It is suitable for patent/IP managers within businesses who would like to know how to leverage the PCT phase of their patent applications to save costs and reduce the burden of prosecution in the national and regional phases. It is also suitable for IP solicitors and patent attorneys (in house or private practice, and in any jurisdiction) looking to advise clients on strategy for PCT patent applications and national/regional phase applications.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• Practicalities of IPE - deadlines, formal requirements, matters to watch out for and advantages to seize on
• Strategy in IPE - oral dialogue with the Examiner, co-ordinating families of co-pending cases, early certainty and ‘what next’
• Substance of IPE - admissibility and allowability of claim amendments, issues examined in principle and in reality
• Patent Prosecution Highway - how it works, how it dovetails with IPE, when and whether it is useful
• PCT Direct - what it is, how it works, how it can complement or replace IPE, and other strategic tips and tricks

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.