International

A UK patent will only give you the right to stop others from using your invention in the UK, including importing the invention into the UK from abroad. If you want similar rights outside the UK then you must obtain corresponding patents in all the other countries where you require protection. It is not possible to get a single patent covering the whole world.

The process of obtaining a patent can be expensive if you do not get proper advice or if you apply for patents in countries where you cannot really afford them. The cost of patents may be particularly expensive in countries where a translation of the application must be filed at the outset. So, consider carefully the list of countries where you have a real commercial requirement for patent protection. Is manufacture of your particular invention focussed on a few particular territories so that the majority of competitors can be excluded by strategically seeking patents in those countries?

Used properly, the patent system should make you money overall because you will be able to license your inventions in return for royalties or prevent your competitors from using inventions which fall under your patents.