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Patents and Trademarks: International Patents

Basic patent resources for general research and design ideas

Patents and trademarks outside the United States

Intellectual Property Outside the United States

Since the rights granted by a U.S. patent extend only throughout the territory of the United States and have no effect in a foreign country, an inventor who wishes patent protection in other countries must apply for a patent in each of the other countries or in regional patent offices. Almost every country has its own patent law, and a person desiring a patent in a particular country must make an application for patent in that country, in accordance with the requirements of that country.  Similarly, local laws apply to trademark, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property in each jurisdiction. (From the USPTO: Protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Overseas)

Information sources:

International Patent Search Tools

There are sources which provide access to the full text of patents filed and granted outside the United States.  The following are selected sources:

International Patent Applications

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