# Strategies to take advantage of differences in the international patent system to extend product time to market ## Overview of Core strategies 1. **Phased patent application** -First file a basic application in a country with slow patent examination -Use the 12-month priority period of the Paris Convention -Reasonable arrangement of PCT international application timeline 2. **Multi-level patent protection** -Adopt the main patent + continuously improve the patent strategy -Build a patent portfolio around core technologies 3. **Take advantage of the characteristics of specific national patent systems** ## Specific operation method ### Take advantage of the difference in review time -The United States provides a temporary application (Provisional Application), which can obtain 12-month priority without the need to disclose it immediately -Japan and China can delay the examination, and applicants can request a delay in the examination -The EU patent examination is relatively long and can be used strategically ### Balance of openness and confidentiality -Delay the disclosure of technical details as much as possible before the mandatory disclosure deadline -Reasonably control the depth of technical disclosure in the patent specification -Some technologies are considered for protection as trade secrets rather than patents ### Patent Life Cycle Management -Patent concatenation strategy for gradual product improvement - Apply for method patents, application patents and manufacturing patents to form a complete system - Consider appropriate patent division applications ### Compliance tips -This strategy needs to strictly comply with the patent laws of various countries - Avoid the risk of patent invalidation caused by abuse of the patent system - Ensure that the strategy meets the requirements of international agreements such as TRIPS The implementation of the above strategy requires a professional intellectual property team to formulate a global patent layout plan to balance the protection period with market expansion needs.