Foreign Patents · PCT

PCT or direct national filing: how should an overseas patent route be chosen?

The choice depends on target countries, timing, disclosure risk, budget and business certainty.

The choice depends on target countries, timing, disclosure risk, budget and business certainty.

What to review

A PCT application is not a worldwide patent; national/regional offices ultimately decide grant.

Strategic approach

Priority is generally claimed by filing PCT within 12 months of the earliest filing.

Practical point

PCT can preserve options when target markets are not yet fixed.

How SKY approaches the issue

For U.S. entry, claim scope should be reviewed against the actual product and competitive landscape.

Official references

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This article is general information based on official materials reviewed in August 2026. Requirements may change and should be confirmed for each matter.

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