ARTICLE
13 October 2020

Which International Search Authority Is Right For Me?

FH
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP

Contributor

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP is a law firm dedicated to advancing ideas, discoveries, and innovations that drive businesses around the world. From offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, Finnegan works with leading innovators to protect, advocate, and leverage their most important intellectual property (IP) assets.
When filing a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, applicants must select an international search authority (ISA) to compile the international search report and written ...
United States Intellectual Property

When filing a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, applicants must select an international search authority (ISA) to compile the international search report and written opinion. The search report highlights relevant prior art, while the written opinion provides a non-binding opinion on patentability.

This information will likely influence a prosecution strategy in the national and regional phases of the application process. Getting the "right" ISA can be important, but what does "right" mean in this context?

While most receiving offices allow applicants a choice of ISAs, applicants tend to default to their local ISA since that is usually their primary business region, so an early opinion on local patentability issues may be valuable. However, there may be advantages to using a different ISA, depending on the business needs for the application in question.

Read the full article here.

Originally published by World Intellectual Property Review

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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