What Foreign Countries Should I File My Patent Application In?

It’s a question we all regularly hear from clients:  “what foreign countries should I file my patent application in?  Add this chart to your list of visual aids for explaining the topic to your clients:

Capture1-16-2007-12.01.08 PM

Countries GDP as US States

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  1. Internet Access to Patent Application Files Now Available
  2. Foreign clients — Billing and Collecting

2 Responses to What Foreign Countries Should I File My Patent Application In?
  1. Stephen
    January 17, 2007 | 1:44 pm

    Steve,

    This is an excellent idea and certainly the “what foreign countries should I file my patent application in?” question is painful to answer and costly when incorrectly answered.

    Like your map, I recommend that the client put together a ranked list of the industry-specific GDP of each country and then choose the top countries for that industry.

    Admittedly, this is difficult in an hard-to-define technology area but worth trying.

    Also, I strongly recommend filing in any country that’s home to a major competitor. Get’s ‘em where it hurts.

  2. Nipper
    January 17, 2007 | 2:06 pm

    Another approach is “where did my competitors file.” That one is fun…you get to scratch your head and say “why in the heck did they file THERE????”