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Patent Services

Patent Filing & Registration

Protecting an invention across multiple markets requires a carefully sequenced international filing strategy. The right approach depends on your commercial targets, budget, timeline, and the nature of the technology. Legacy Partners manages direct national, PCT, and regional patent filings across 150+ jurisdictions.

Direct International Patent Filing

Direct national filing involves submitting separate applications to each target country's patent office. This route is most efficient when protecting an invention in a small number of specific markets, or in non PCT jurisdictions.

Key Filing Jurisdictions

Region	Patent Office	Notes
UAE & GCC	Ministry of Economy (UAE); GCC PO (Riyadh)	National and regional GCC routes both available
Europe	European Patent Office (EPO)	Single application covering 38+ member states
United States	USPTO	World's largest patent market; continuation strategy critical
India	Indian Patent Office (4 branches)	PCT national phase or direct filing both available
China	CNIPA	Largest global patent filer; essential for manufacturing technology
United Kingdom	UKIPO	Post Brexit, separate from EPO validation
Australia	IP Australia	PCT national phase or direct filing

Paris Convention Priority
Under the Paris Convention, to which the UAE and most commercial jurisdictions are party, filing in one country gives the applicant 12 months to file in other member states while claiming the same priority date. The 12 month Paris Convention window is a hard deadline. Missing it means losing your original priority date, and potentially novelty, in all subsequent markets.

PCT International Patent Applications

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), administered by WIPO, enables a single international application simultaneously seeking protection in up to 157 member countries. It is the most widely used mechanism for global patent strategy.

Filing
File through WIPO or a national Receiving Office.

Search
International Searching Authority issues opinion on novelty.

Publication
WIPO publishes application 18 months after priority.

Examination
Optional Chapter II examination to strengthen application.

National Phase
Enter chosen countries by 30 month deadline.

Grant
Each national office grants independently.

Choosing The Right Filing Strategy

Scenario	Recommended Approach
UAE and GCC only	GCC Patent Office, single application
UAE + India + US + Europe	PCT designating all; GCC via national/regional phase
Single country urgently needed	Direct national filing in target country
Commercial targets still uncertain	PCT, preserves options to 30 month point
Startup pre seed phase	Provisional application → PCT within 12 months

Frequently Asked Questions

A PCT application is a single filing that simultaneously seeks protection in multiple countries. It does not itself grant a patent, each national office grants independently. The PCT is a procedural mechanism, not a global patent.

Yes. The UAE Ministry of Economy serves as a Receiving Office for PCT applications filed by UAE residents and nationals.

30 months from the earliest priority date in most countries (31 months in some). Missing this deadline is typically fatal to protection in that jurisdiction.

Yes. A granted GCC regional patent is automatically effective in all six GCC member states, including the UAE.

It is a 12 month window from an initial filing during which a corresponding application can be filed in other member states while keeping the original priority date, which is important for establishing novelty.

A PCT application is published 18 months after the priority date, which affects when the invention becomes publicly disclosed regardless of national phase progress.

A PCT filing can potentially lead to protection in any of up to 157 WIPO member countries, though each national or regional office still examines and grants independently.

Applications can be filed directly with individual national patent offices, an option used across more than 150 jurisdictions where speed or specific local strategy considerations make it preferable to the PCT route.

Coverage includes the UAE and GCC, the European Patent Office, the USPTO, India, China's CNIPA, the UK's UKIPO, and IP Australia, among other national offices.

The GCC Patent Office route seeks a single regional grant effective across all six member states, whereas separate national phase entries require prosecuting and maintaining an individual application in each chosen GCC country.

Yes. A UAE filing date can generally be used to claim priority in a subsequent PCT or foreign national application, provided it is filed within the applicable priority period.

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Patent Filing & Registration

Direct International Patent Filing

Key Filing Jurisdictions

PCT International Patent Applications

Choosing The Right Filing Strategy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a PCT application and a national patent?

Can I file a PCT application from the UAE?

How long do I have to enter national phase from a PCT application?

Does a GCC patent automatically include the UAE?

What is the Paris Convention priority period, and why does it matter?

When is a PCT application published?

In how many countries can I seek protection through a single PCT application?

What direct national filing routes are available outside the PCT system?

Which major jurisdictions can Legacy Partners assist with patent filings in?

What is the difference between filing through the GCC Patent Office and filing PCT national phase applications separately in each GCC state?