New/Updated PCT Resources on the Internet

Modifications to the Administrative Instructions under the PCT

A new consolidated text of the Administrative Instructions, applicable with effect from 1 January 2010, is now available –  see “Modifications to the Administrative Instructions under the PCT”, above. 

Modified Request Form

The request form (PCT/RO/101) has been updated in English and French with effect from 1 January 2010 – for details, see “Modifications to the Request Form”, above. Note that other language versions, as well as filled-in versions, are currently under preparation.

ISA and IPEA Agreements

Updated versions of the Agreements, in English and French, between the International Bureau of WIPO and the following Authorities as International Searching Authorities (ISAs) and International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs) and, in the case of the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, as International Searching Authority specified for Supplementary Search (SISA):

CN    State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China
          (24 December 2009)

ES    Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (1 January 2010)

FI      National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (1 January 2010)

KR    Korean Intellectual Property Office (1 January 2010)

US    United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (24 December 2009)

relating to the functioning of those Authorities as ISAs, IPEAs and SISAs under the PCT, as in force from the dates indicated in parentheses, have been published in PDF format at:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/access/isa_ipea_agreements.html

http://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/access/isa_ipea_agreements.html

Italian version of the Patent Cooperation Treaty and Regulations

The Patent Cooperation Treaty and Regulations under the PCT, as in force from 1 July 2009, are now available in Italian, in PDF format, at, respectively:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/it/texts/pdf/pct.pdf

http://www.wipo.int/pct/it/texts/pdf/pct_regs.pdf

PCT Applicant’s Guide:  New Annex SISA (FI)

Further to the information published in PCT Newsletter No. 12/2009, new Annex SISA (FI) of the PCT Applicant’s Guide, containing information on the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland in its capacity as SISA, is now available in English and French at, respectively:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/gdvol1/annexes/annexsisa/ax_sisa_fi.pdf

http://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/fr/gdvol1/annexes/annexsisa/ax_sisa_fi.pdf

Information on PCT fee reductions

It is recalled that since 1 February 2009, the international search fee payable to the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office is reduced by 75% if the application is filed in Spanish and the applicant or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a natural person or a legal entity and is a national of and resides in a State not party to the European Patent Convention and which is classified by the World Bank in the group of countries of "low income", "lower middle income" or "upper middle income". The list of States concerned by this reduction has been updated and is available at:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees/oepm_fee_reduction.html

Table concerning restoration of the right of priority

The table summarizing information received by the IB regarding restoration of the right of priority by receiving Offices and designated Offices under PCT Rules 26bis.3 and 49ter.2 has been updated in English and French, at, respectively:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/texts/restoration.html

http://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/texts/restoration.html

Materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE)

In order to assist candidates in the preparation of materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) for prospective European patent attorneys, the International Bureau, with the agreement of the Examination Board for the EQE, has made available on the website four PDF files for the PCT Applicant's Guide, the International Phase and the National Phase as of 31 December 2009 in English and French at, respectively:

http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/eqe_collection_ip.pdf

http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/eqe_collection_np.pdf

http://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/seminar/eqe_collection_ip.pdf

http://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/seminar/eqe_collection_np.pdf

For printing purposes, please be warned that these PDF files are large – the complete collection in either language amounts to some 1,700 recto/verso pages.  To avoid printing difficulties select “Fit to Printable Area” in the “Page Scaling” options when printing.