Malaysia Joins the Patent Cooperation Treaty

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) has become effective in Malaysia as of August 16, 2006. A patent application filed under the PCT now covers 131 countries, including all of the major industrial countries, in a single filing. Filing a PCT patent application provides valuable time (up to two and a half years) before nationalization is required in each of the contracting states. The decision of entry into a member state, as well as consequent translation and filing fees, can be delayed until business interests arise and/or until the patented technology is validated.