TRIPS, PCT and Global Patent Procurement

The introduction of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement has established a global patent system requiring a high standard of patent protection. However, any consequential increase in patent applications will further strain the resources of patent offices worldwide. A monolithic "World Patent Office" granting "World Patents" will most likely remain a utopian idea but the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) has successfully demonstrated how to emulate a "World Patent Office" processing "World Patent Applications". The current PCT only goes halfway towards the grant of a patent, hence, the logical step to handle an increase in patent applications would be to further develop the PCT towards a patent grant procedure. This has been recognized and in late 2000, the Assembly of the PCT Union decided to set up a special body to consider a formal request by the United States for a "Reform of the Patent Cooperation Treaty".