In an age of increasing globalization, companies large and small are seeking patent protection in multiple countries. WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) provides essential services to facilitate this process and is an increasingly popular means of filing for international patent protection. In 2011 alone, over 181,000 international patent applications were filed under the Treaty. The patent system as it exists today, however, is still characterized by processes that are largely rooted in the physical exchange of documents. This can cause delays and impede the system's operational efficiency. In May 2011, WIPO launched ePCT, a new online service that will make the process of international patent application filing far easier and more efficient, and offers users and national patent offices a number of advantages. ePCT users are heralding it as the greatest innovation in the PCT system over the past 30 years. This article outlines the services available under ePCT and highlights some of its main benefits.
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