> There is no such thing as an international patent.
Sure there are:
- ARIPO patents can protect in Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, the Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- GCC patents can protect in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
- Eurasian patents can protect in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
- EPO patents can protect in too many countries to list.
- Hague design patents can protect in too many countries to list.
The point that patents are regional is definitely true, and country specific patents tend not to provide protections in other countries. but I figured I'd mention that there are many multi-country regions which are certainly international patents. :)
I should also point out that while a 'US patent' might not provide international protection, most people looking for international protections will probably be using the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) or other mechanisms for multi-country filings, with is another mechanism through which you can make one international application to most countries.
Sure there are:
- ARIPO patents can protect in Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, the Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- GCC patents can protect in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
- Eurasian patents can protect in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
- EPO patents can protect in too many countries to list.
- Hague design patents can protect in too many countries to list.
The point that patents are regional is definitely true, and country specific patents tend not to provide protections in other countries. but I figured I'd mention that there are many multi-country regions which are certainly international patents. :)
I should also point out that while a 'US patent' might not provide international protection, most people looking for international protections will probably be using the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) or other mechanisms for multi-country filings, with is another mechanism through which you can make one international application to most countries.
For some basics of how the PCT works, see:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/faqs/faqs.html