Patents in China

Patents are filed in China for international protection of inventions under PCT route after domestic patent filing. The first patent application is filed in home country to secure a patent priority date. Thereafter, within 12 months of the priority date, a PCT international phase application is filed with the WIPO. The PCT international patent application provides a time period of almost 30 to 31 months from the priority date to file the same patent application in multiple countries, including, India, China, Singapore, and the like. China and India amended their patent laws to fulfill the obligation of TRIPS agreement.