Definition
The national phase is the point at which a PCT application is filed into specific countries’ patent offices to be examined under each country’s laws.
Why It Matters Legally
Entering the national phase is where global protection actually takes shape and where costs escalate, since each country requires its own fees, translations, and prosecution. Missing national phase deadlines forfeits rights in that country.
Example Use Case
Thirty months after its PCT filing, a company enters the national phase in five countries, each of which examines the application separately.
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Related Terms
PCT Application, Patent Prosecution, Priority Date, Filing Date