Patent, Design and PCT
Even though patent laws vary from country to country, most countries
have adopted a more or less uniform approach to patent protection.
Accordingly, the following information may vary from country to country
and is to be considered as a brief and simplified outline.
Read more....
Whereas a patent confers generally wide protection for an invention, the protection afforded by a registered design is limited to the specific appearance of the article so registered. This protection does not extend to the underlying principle or the functional purpose of the article. Read more....
Foreign Registrations & the PCT
The popular term "worldwide patent" is based on a fallacy. "Worldwide patents" do not exist. In general, separate protection must be applied for in each country individually. However, a handful of regional patent organisations do exist which cover patent protection in more than one country, for example, ARIPO, the Eurasian Patent Office, the European Patent Office, the Gulf Co-operation Countries, and OAPI. Read more....