Is there a 'world patent'?

No. A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application is a centralized filing system that buys you 30 months of 'patent pending' status in 150+ countries. You must still pay to enter the 'national phase' and prosecute the patent in each individual country.

How much should I budget for international patents?

Plan for $15,000-$25,000 for the initial US provisional and PCT filing. The real cost comes later: budget $80,000 to $150,000+ spread over several years to get a single patent granted in 3-5 key countries (e.g., US, EU, China).

What's the cheapest, most important first IP step?

For any software company, the highest-leverage move is to register the copyright for your core codebase. It costs less than $100 with the U.S. Copyright Office and provides powerful, internationally recognized proof of ownership.

Should I file patents or trademarks in China?

If your product is manufactured in China or you plan significant sales there, absolutely. A Chinese patent or trademark can empower you to stop counterfeiters at the factory gate, which is far more effective than trying to stop illegal imports downstream.

Do I really need an IP lawyer for this?

Yes. This is not a DIY project. International IP has expensive and irreversible pitfalls. Use a specialized IP attorney, not just your general corporate counsel, to navigate treaties and foreign laws.

Is there a 'world patent'?

No. A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application is a centralized filing system that buys you 30 months of 'patent pending' status in 150+ countries. You must still pay to enter the 'national phase' and prosecute the patent in each individual country.

How much should I budget for international patents?

Plan for $15,000-$25,000 for the initial US provisional and PCT filing. The real cost comes later: budget $80,000 to $150,000+ spread over several years to get a single patent granted in 3-5 key countries (e.g., US, EU, China).

What's the cheapest, most important first IP step?

For any software company, the highest-leverage move is to register the copyright for your core codebase. It costs less than $100 with the U.S. Copyright Office and provides powerful, internationally recognized proof of ownership.

Should I file patents or trademarks in China?

If your product is manufactured in China or you plan significant sales there, absolutely. A Chinese patent or trademark can empower you to stop counterfeiters at the factory gate, which is far more effective than trying to stop illegal imports downstream.

Do I really need an IP lawyer for this?

Yes. This is not a DIY project. International IP has expensive and irreversible pitfalls. Use a specialized IP attorney, not just your general corporate counsel, to navigate treaties and foreign laws.

Global IP Strategy for Startups: Protect What Matters

Don't waste money filing IP everywhere. Learn a surgical, budget-conscious global IP strategy to protect your startup in the markets that actually matter.

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Global IP Strategy for Startups: A Founder's Guide

Stop thinking 'global protection' and start thinking 'strategic investment.' This guide shows you how to use patents and trademarks to protect your business in the 2-3 markets that matter—without bankrupting your company.

TL;DR: For early-stage startups, the default answer to filing IP in a new country should be 'no.' Focus cash on the 2-3 countries critical to your customers, manufacturing, or competitors. Use international treaties like the PCT (for patents) and Madrid Protocol (for trademarks) to delay major expenses, and register your code's copyright immediately—it's your cheapest, highest-leverage IP move.

Key takeaways

Default to "no" on all new IP filings to conserve cash for growth.
Prioritize IP spend on your core customer, manufacturing, and competitor markets only.
Use the PCT process to delay expensive patent "national phase" costs for 30 months.
Use the Madrid Protocol to file trademarks affordably in multiple countries at once.
Register your software's copyright; it is the cheapest, highest-leverage IP protection available.
Before suing, use platform takedown tools and targeted cease-and-desist letters.

Stop Thinking "Global IP." Start Thinking "Surgical IP."

Most advice on global intellectual property will bankrupt your startup. It’s written for corporations with a "protect everything, everywhere" mindset. That is not your reality. Cash is your oxygen, and you can't afford to waste it defending markets you don't have.

There is no such thing as a "global patent" or "global trademark." All IP rights are national. Your goal is not to blanket the earth with filings, but to make a few targeted bets that protect your core business advantage in the handful of places that will make or break your next two years.

For an early-stage startup, the default answer to "Should we file IP in country X?" must be "No." Every dollar you spend on a patent in a market you aren’t in is a dollar you can't spend on a critical engineer or a go-to-market experiment. The opportunity cost is too high.

The 4-Question Framework for Prioritizing IP Spend

Instead of "How do we protect this everywhere?" ask: "Where do we need protection to secure a specific, near-term business objective?" Filter every potential country through these four lenses.

The Customer Market: Where are your highest-value customers? Specifically, where do you expect >15% of your revenue to come from in the next 3 years? You file here to prevent competitors from selling copycat products directly to your users. For most US startups, this is just the United States.
The Manufacturing Market: Where is your product or its key components built? Filing in manufacturing hubs (e.g., China, Vietnam, Taiwan) can be more potent than filing where you sell. It gives you the power to get an injunction and shut down knock-offs at the factory, stopping the problem at the source.
The Competitor Market: Where are your top 1-2 competitors headquartered or doing R&D? A patent in their home market can create defensive value, giving you a powerful bargaining chip ("we won't sue you on our patent if you don't sue us on yours") to ensure your freedom to operate.
The Capital Market: Are investors in a specific region (e.g., EU) telling you they expect to see filings in that jurisdiction? This is the weakest reason. A good investor backs a sound business strategy; if filing in Germany isn't strategic, explain why. But it can occasionally be a tie-breaker.

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