IDC [Patent] Law and Legal Definition
The term ‘IDC’ when used in the context of patents means Initial Data Capture. There are different phases for publishing a patent. The IDC is the first phase of the publication process. In this phase, the patent file is electronically captured. The IDC is completed approximately within 6 weeks from the date the allowed file is received. After that the application is sent to the File Maintenance Facility (FMF), which checks whether the required fee is paid. The FMF, if necessary, also makes further correspondences. Once all files are matched, the application will move to the Final Data Capture.
