The accession by Angola means that in any international application filed on or after December 27, 2007, Angola (country code: AO) will automatically be designated, and as it will be bound by Chapter II of the Treaty, will automatically be elected in any demand for international preliminary examination filed in respect of an international application filed on or after December 27, 2007. Also, as of that date, nationals and residents of Angola will themselves be able to file PCT applications.

The PCT system offers a number of advantages for patent applicants, national patent offices and the general public.

Some of the most important advantages offered by the PCT to patent applicants include the following:

The PCT offers applicants seeking patent protection in multiple countries a more user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient option. By filing one “international” patent application under the PCT with one patent office (the receiving office) in one language, an applicant can seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries.

This is because the effect of such an international application in each “designated State” is the same as if a national patent application had been filed with the national patent office of that country.

Without the PCT, an applicant would generally be required to file separate national patent applications with the office of each country in which patent protection is sought.

In using the PCT, applicants are allowed at least 18 months more time (in relation to most designated Offices) than if they filed directly with individual national patent offices, to decide whether and in which countries they wish to pursue patent protection. This effectively delays, by the same number of months, the costs associated with translating the application, paying national fees and appointing local patent agents. These advantages are not available if patent applications are filed directly with individual national offices.

Under the PCT, applicants will obtain an international search report and a written opinion of the International Searching Authority concerning the potential patentability of the invention and, optionally, an international preliminary examination report.

The information contained in these documents enables applicants to better evaluate whether it is worthwhile to continue with their patent application before they are required to pay the full range of costs involved. Applicants also benefit from the uniform formality requirements and centralized international publication provided by the PCT system.

Applicants who are nationals and residents of Angola (and other countries which meet certain criteria) are entitled to a 75% reduction of certain PCT fees in respect of international applications filed under the PCT.

PCT membership gives better access to the national patent systems in multiple countries. As the system offers a more user-friendly and cost-effective option for applicants seeking patent protection in multiple countries, PCT membership will normally result in an increase in the number of patent applications filed and a corresponding increase in revenues for the national patent office.

PCT membership may also result in reduced publication costs for those national offices which recognize the international publication of PCT applications for the purposes of national law.