The IPEA report is not an allowance or a refusal of the application. It is merely a guide. The national examiners can accept or reject the IPEA report, and they can also conduct supplemental searches. Thus this second examination will proceed much more rapidly. Increasingly, businesses are relying on new ideas and advances in technology to keep their competitive edge.
Patents are therefore a critical element in most business plans.
In today's global market, consideration of international protection is vital. Performing a patent search , keeping an idea confidential . Applying for a utility patent , or a design patent . The provisional patent application . Protecting your invention abroad especially in Europe .