A Glossary of Intellectual Property Terminology Patent Terms PRIORITY APPLICATION First application filed for an invention, priority may apply for patents subsequently filed in other countries, filing date is “priority date” PARIS CONVENTION Provides a one year period from priority date to file patent applications effective in other convention states PATENT COOPERATION TREATY Provides a vehicle to file a single application to retain priority under the paris convention in a number of countries around the world, not all Paris Convention countries are PCT members No protection through filing a PCT application alone As of April 1, 2002, 30 months from priority date to file national applications in designated PCT countries EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION A regional application filing which allows single prosecution of an application for a number of European countries, if designated when filed Upon grant, validation must occur in countries designated in which protection is desired OTHER REGIONAL PATENTS OAPI – African Intellectual Property Organization ARIPO - African Regional Industrial Property Organization