When using New Filings as part of your Patent forecast, it is possible to define extension strategies which are used to then estimate costs for further filings, such as PCT applications or EP Validations. You can either enter the extension strategy on each individual forecast, or predefine your extension strategies and choose from your existing list.

Manually entering an extension strategy

You can manually add an extension strategy when you're creating your forecast.

  1. After adding the new filing details to your forecast, it'll be included in your New Filings table

  2. Click the + button to the left of the filing you want to edit to show more details

  3. In the expanded column you can enter:

    • The percentage of these applications that'll involve a PCT Application

    • Which countries you'll file a PCT Extension in and the percentage of times you'll do this

    • Which countries you'll file an EP Extension in and the percentage of times you'll do this

    • Which countries you'll file an EA Extension in and the percentage of times you'll do this

    • Which countries you'll file a Direct Extension in and the percentage of times you'll do this

  4. Click the Update button to save your changes 
    Or 
    Click X to discard these changes 

  5. When the forecast comes back, you'll see forecasted data from the first filing all the way to validations and national phase entries. 

Extension strategy profiles

You can also set up predefined extension strategy profiles in Equinox. These might be useful if you frequently create forecasts that use the same extension strategy - e.g., the client requests a PCT application 80% of the time after a GB first filing. 

To do this:

  1. Click the Extension Profiles button on the top right of the Forecasts screen. Then click Create Profile

  2. This opens the Extension Details popup  

  3. Enter a Name for your extension strategy profile

  4. Fill in the Extension Countries and their filing percentages as applicable

  5. Click the Create button to save this rule Or Click Cancel to exit the popup without saving

  6. Next time you're editing or creating a new forecast, you'll be able to set your forecast rules by selecting this ready-made profile from the dropdown menu

  7. Click Update to save your changes