Intellectual property attorney Jeffrey Navon serves as an expert in patent litigation at Thomson Licensing in Princeton, New Jersey. Jeffrey Navon also works with various nations’ patent offices on issues regarding prosecution and licensing.

1. THE WORKINGS OF THE
PATENT COOPERATION
TREATY
By Attorney Jeffrey Navon

2. The Workings of the Patent
Cooperation Treaty
Intellectual property attorney Jeffrey Navon
serves as an expert in patent litigation at
Thomson Licensing in Princeton, New Jersey.
Jeffrey Navon also works with various nations’
patent offices on issues regarding prosecution
and licensing.

3. The Workings of the Patent
Cooperation Treaty
One major development in this field is the
Patent Cooperation Treaty, which enables
patent seekers to simultaneously file in 148
countries. Administered by the World
Intellectual Property Organization, the treaty
permits inventors to access information
regarding patents, in addition to assisting
national patent offices with their decision
making.

4. The Workings of the Patent
Cooperation Treaty
After filing an application, inventors follow
several steps. First, an International Search
Authority (ISA) issues an opinion as to the
patentability of the idea. Later comes an
announcement revealing the content of the
application.

5. The Workings of the Patent
Cooperation Treaty
Optionally, another ISA carries out a second
search and locates any documents that may
have been missed on the first search; further
opinions could be issued regarding
patentability. Finally, inventors can apply in
individual countries or regions, and electronic
filing is available in many of the treaty’s
nations.