BEEM PATENT LAW FIRM, CHICAGO, IL, USA, TEL. 312-201-0011

For U.S. inventors and companies, the key to international patent rights is prompt and timely filing of a U.S. patent application.  Unlike the U.S., which has a one-year "grace period," most countries require "absolute novelty," which means, as a practical matter, that at least a U.S. patent application must be filed before any public disclosure or commercialization of an invention.  Pursuant to international treaties applicable in most countries of the world, for utility patent applications, corresponding international patent applications can be filed within one year and must claim the benefit of the U.S. filing date.

Beem Patent Law Firm files international patent applications through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and an extensive network of international associates in practically every country of the world.  Some of the challenges of international patent practice are identified in Rich Beem's article, "French Client, German Court and You Speak Only English?" as presented to the U.S. Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).  In June 2004, Rich Beem attended the 39th World Congress of AIPPI in Geneva, Switzerland, where he played a key role in a working group on harmonization of international patent laws (Q. 180 addresses the U.S. requirement of "utility" and other countries' requirement of "industrial applicability").

Beem Patent Law Firm welcomes new relationships with U.S. and international clients and associates. 

For assistance in patent matters, please contact:

Disclaimer:  Information presented on this site is not legal advice and does not form an attorney-client relationship.