This roadmap is designed to provide a clear understanding of how patents work. It takes you step by step from the very first idea through to the possibility of international protection. It explains the language used by lawyers and examiners, and it highlights the decisions you will face at each stage. It also gives you an indication of the costs, without tying you down to figures that may not apply to your particular case.

For you as the client, the novelty search has two significant benefits. It provides realistic expectations of whether a patent is achievable, and it enables your attorney to draft a stronger application by focusing on the true innovation. It is optional, but it can save money in the long run.

For many clients, this is the first time they see the legal and technical arguments that will shape their journey. The report may be positive, raising only minor issues, or it may highlight more serious objections. Either way, it provides valuable clarity.

At the twelve-month point from your UK filing, you must decide whether to look beyond the United Kingdom. The most common route is through the Patent Cooperation Treaty, often abbreviated to PCT. This system enables you to file a single international application, which is treated as if it were filed in over 150 countries.

Between sixteen and thirty months from your first UK filing, your PCT application is examined by an international authority. The examiner issues two critical documents. The International Search Report lists prior art considered relevant, and the Written Opinion explains any concerns about novelty, inventiveness, or clarity.

The international phase gives you time to take stock. By now, you may have spoken with investors, sought commercial partners, or tested your invention in the market. You may have refined your design, improved your prototype, or identified commercially important territories.

Transparent guide to intellectual property costs, terms and phases, free of charge PDF.

Each territory has its own Intellectual Property Office, its own rules, and its own fees. Some require translations into local languages, some have strict formalities, and some follow a more streamlined process. Costs therefore vary, but as a general guide, it is sensible to budget several thousand pounds per territory. In practice, some countries will be less costly, while others will be more so.

Once your application has been filed in the chosen territories, each local office examines it under its own laws. In many cases, the objections raised mirror those already made during the international examination. In others, particularly in the United States, new objections may arise.

If the examination process is successful, the patent is granted. This means it is officially recognised and enforceable in the chosen territory. At this point, you can stop describing your invention as patent pending and instead use the full patent number.