NEWSLETTER-2017

306 NEWSLETTER 2017 Accordingly, the national patent application and international ap- plications will be examined, separately. National Application The national patent application is comprised of the following: • Application, • Procedural examination, • Request for investigation, and investigation, • Publication, • Patent decision, • Third party claims, and • Finalization of patent decision. Patent Cooperation Treaty The Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) assists applicants in seek- ing patent protection, internationally, for their inventions, and assists patent offices with their patent-granting decisions. By filing one inter- national patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultane- ously seek protection for an invention in 126 countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Application under the PCT may be initiated either from the na- tional application offices of the countries that are party to the PCT or World Intellectual Property Organization Offices. Following the application, an international examination report will be prepared and international publication will be made. Applicants may secure patent protection in requested countries that are party to the PCT, following finalization of the application. Reference of the PCT is presented under Article 83/3(a) of the IPL.