Taking advantage of differences in patent application and disclosure systems in different countries to extend the time to market for global products is a complex and cautious strategy involving many legal, ethical and commercial considerations. ### 1. Understand the differences in patent systems in different countries - **Application time and priority** - Many countries follow the principle of priority. When an applicant applies for a patent in another country for the same subject matter within a certain period of time (such as 12 months) after the first patent application, he or she can enjoy the filing date of the first application. Companies can use this rule to reasonably arrange the application time in different countries. - For example, first file a patent application in the United States, and then within the priority period, according to the product development progress and market strategy, choose to apply for patents in other countries in a targeted manner to ensure that patent protection is obtained in key markets while maintaining relative confidentiality of information for a certain period of time. - **Publication time** - Different countries have different regulations on the time of patent application disclosure. Some countries will disclose the patent application within a short period of time after the patent application is submitted, while some countries may give the applicant a longer confidentiality period. - For example, in some countries, patent applications are automatically disclosed in about 18 months, while in other countries, applicants can request a delay in disclosure for up to several years. Companies can take advantage of these differences and, in the early stages, choose to submit applications in countries where some technical details are disclosed later, in order to extend the protection period of technical secrets and buy time for product optimization. - **Examination system** - The patent examination systems of different countries are different, including immediate examination system, delayed examination system, etc. - In countries with delayed examination system, applicants can decide whether to request substantive examination within a certain period (such as 3-7 years) after application. Companies can take advantage of this feature and flexibly decide whether to initiate substantive examination procedures in specific countries before the product is launched based on market feedback and competitive situation. If the market situation is favorable, the examination can be accelerated to obtain patent authorization; if the market is unclear or there is room for improvement in the product, the examination can be temporarily not requested, and the product can be continued to be improved, while maintaining the validity of the application to avoid premature disclosure of technical details. ### 2. Formulate patent application strategy - **Phase application** - According to the product's technical iteration and market expansion plan, apply for patents in different countries in stages. Apply for core technology patents first, and then gradually supplement subsequent related patent applications as the product is improved and new functions are developed. - For example, a smartphone manufacturer, when the initial design of the product is completed, first applies for patents on the basic architecture and main functions of the phone, and then applies for targeted patents in target market countries at the stages of upgrading the phone camera technology and launching new operating system functions. This can not only maintain the consistency of the patent layout, but also take advantage of the characteristics of the local patent system at each stage to appropriately delay the disclosure of some technical details. - **Patent portfolio construction** - Build a multi-level patent portfolio, including basic patents, improvement patents, peripheral patents, etc. By reasonably matching different types of patents, the coverage and strength of patents can be increased, and it is also helpful to use patent disclosure rules in different countries to regulate time. - For example, basic patents cover the core technical principles of the product, and can be applied for priority in some countries with looser restrictions on patent disclosure time to obtain a longer confidentiality advantage; improvement patents are aimed at local innovations of the product. When the product is close to being launched, it is chosen to apply in a timely manner in key market countries, and use the local fast review channel (if any) to obtain authorization as soon as possible to protect the differentiated competitive advantage of the product; peripheral patents focus on the product's appearance design, packaging, etc., and the application time can be flexibly arranged in different countries according to market demand and competition conditions. ### 3. Pay attention to legal and ethical risks - **Comply with legal provisions** - Strictly abide by the patent laws of various countries and relevant international treaties. Any attempt to evade review or delay disclosure by improper means by using institutional differences may face legal risks, resulting in invalidation of the patent or punishment. - For example, once the provision of false information or malicious use of loopholes in the rules is discovered during the application process, the company will face serious legal consequences. Not only may it lose patent protection, but it will also damage the company's reputation and face huge fines and other penalties. - **Moral considerations** - When taking advantage of institutional differences, ethical factors should also be considered. Excessive delays in product launch may harm consumer interests and affect the long-term development of the company. Companies should find the right balance between patent protection and market competition and consumer rights to ensure that their behavior is in line with business ethics and social responsibility. For example, key product safety information or technical defects cannot be deliberately concealed simply to extend the time to market, otherwise it may trigger social pressure and regulatory attention, causing greater negative impact on the company.