Warning About Requests for Payment of Fees (Reminder)

Further to the many warnings that have been published in the PCT Newsletter about invitations to PCT applicants and agents to pay fees that do not come from the International Bureau of WIPO and are unrelated to the processing of international applications under the PCT, a new invitation has been identified originating from “WBIP – World Bureau Intellectual Property”. To view an example of the new invitation, as well as the many other examples which have been brought to the attention of WIPO by PCT users, and for further information on such requests in general, see:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/warning/pct_warning.htm

PCT applicants and agents should note that it is the International Bureau of WIPO alone which publishes all PCT applications promptly after the expiration of 18 months from the priority date (see PCT Article 21(2)(a)); there is no separate fee for such international publication, and the legal effects of international publication are set out in PCT Article 29.

If they have not already done so, PCT applicants and agents are advised to bring this information to the attention of the people responsible for handling payments of fees within their organizations, as well as to the attention of inventors who might also receive such requests.

In case of doubt in relation to any such invitation, which may or may not appear to originate from WIPO, please do not hesitate to contact the International Bureau:

Telephone:     +41 22 338 83 38

Fax:                  +41 22 338 83 39

E-mail:            pct.infoline@wipo.int