In connection with International patent applications under PCT filed on or after 1st July 2020, it will be possible to enter directly the Italian national phase.
It means that it will be no more strictly necessary to enter the European regional phase of an international patent application for applicants who seek protection to only Italy among European territories or to only few European countries including Italy.
The Italian national phase must be entered by 30 months from the international filing date or the priority date, if claimed.
An Italian translation of the international patent application must be filed.
After entry the Italian nation phase, a substantive examination will take place based on the search and preliminary opinion made by the International Searching Authority.