PCT Highlights
PCT recent and future developments
Reminder: Amendments to the PCT Regulations - Entry into force January 1, 2026
- PCT Rules 33 and 64: Broadening the definition of relevant prior art for international search and preliminary examination to include non-written disclosures. For further information, see document PCT/WG/17/10 and paragraphs 25 and 26 and Annex II of document PCT/WG/17/21.
- PCT Rule 34, 36 and 63: The definition of the minimum documentation that the International Searching Authority is required to consult during international search, and the minimum requirements for appointment of an Office or organization as an International Searching Authority and an International Preliminary Examining Authority.
The above amendments will apply to any international application in which the search report is established, or the declaration under Article 17(2)(a) is made, on or after that date.
These legal changes will enable more comprehensive patent searches for applicants, with broader geographic coverage and types of prior art being identified. Most of the newly included patent collections are already available through the PATENTSCOPE database. For more information on the rule change impacts, consult the news article.
Email updates
PCT Highlights - High-level overview of recent and future developments in the PCT. 1-2 per year.
PCT MIA meeting
The latest Meeting of International Authorities (MIA) took place from October 29 to 31, 2025. Working documents for this session are available.
Reminder: Amendments to the PCT Regulations – Entry into Force on 1 July 2025
The amendments to the PCT Regulations, that were adopted by the PCT Assembly in July 2024 and entered into force on 1 July 2025, are as follows:
- Amendments to PCT Rule 89bis.1 to allow receiving Offices to no longer accept paper filings with the option to allow paper submissions for the purposes of obtaining a filing date/meeting a time limit but requiring an electronic re-submission of the documents within two months. The International Bureau as receiving Office will be obliged to continue accepting paper filings (for further information, refer to document PCT/WG/17/15 and document PCT/A/56/2);
- Amendments to PCT Rule 92 to allow the International Bureau to communicate with applicants and Offices in the language of publication other than English and French as currently required (for further information, refer to document PCT/WG/17/6 and document PCT/A/56/2); and
- Amendments to PCT Rule 26.3ter requiring applicants to submit a translation where the abstract and/or text matter of drawings is filed in a language different from the language in which the international application will be published but in a language accepted by the International Searching Authority (for further information, refer to document PCT/WG/17/7 and document PCT/A/56/2).
New Paris Convention State
On 15 May 2025, Ethiopia (country code: ET) deposited its instrument of accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, thus bringing the total number of States party to that Convention to 181. Ethiopia became bound by the Paris Convention on 15 August 2025. The table of “States Party to the PCT and the Paris Convention and Members of the World Trade Organization” has been updated.
Mauritius Joins the ARIPO patent system (Harare Protocol)
On 27 May 2025, the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the Harare Protocol on Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs within the Framework of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). Therefore, the Republic of Mauritius became a member State of the regional patent system established by ARIPO with effect from 27 August 2025, and the number of States party to the Harare Protocol increases to 21.
This means that any international application filed on or after 27 August 2025 includes the designation of the Republic of Mauritius for an ARIPO patent, as well as for a national patent. Furthermore, as from 27 August 2025, it is possible for nationals and residents of the Republic of Mauritius to file international applications with ARIPO as receiving Office, in addition to the Industrial Property Office of Mauritius (IPOM) and the International Bureau of WIPO (more information is available).
ePCT and electronic filing update
A new version of ePCT has been released late March 2025 adding inter alia new ePCT notification methods.
A new ePCT Business Continuity Service is available since 2023 as an alternative mode of filing international application and submitting post-filing documents at the International Bureau and other ePCT-participating Offices (further information is available on the ePCT Business Continuity Service and on limited fax services).
The following Offices now accept international applications filed using the ePCT-Filing function in ePCT: Offices accepting ePCT-Filing
ePCT has best-in-class validation features – all data checks are made against the International Bureau’s database at the time of preparation of the application. To access the ePCT System or read more about the new features for applicants and patent Offices . A series of new ePCT video tutorials for IP Offices and applicants is now available.
Technical aspects and reference data for electronic filing and managing PCT applications and settings at participating Offices, in particular, detailed Office profiles are available. Office profiles are not limited to Offices accepting ePCT-filing.
The New WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge: PCT Implications
WIPO Member States on 24 May 2024 approved a new Treaty related to intellectual property (IP), genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. It is the first WIPO Treaty to address the interface between intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge and the first WIPO Treaty to include provisions specifically for Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities.
With regard to implications for the PCT, please note that an Agreed Statement contained in Footnote 4 of the new Treaty (under Article 7) invites “to consider the need for amendments to the Regulations under the PCT and/or the Administrative Instructions thereunder with a view towards providing an opportunity for applicants who file an international application under the PCT designating a PCT Contracting State which, under its applicable national law, requires the disclosure of genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, to comply with any formality requirements related to such disclosure requirement either upon filing of the international application, with effect for all such Contracting States, or subsequently, upon entry into the national phase before an Office of any such Contracting States.” For more information, refer to PCT Newsletter 2024/06 [PDF].
With regard to implications for the PCT, please note that an Agreed Statement contained in Footnote 4 of the new Treaty (under Article 7) invites “to consider the need for amendments to the Regulations under the PCT and/or the Administrative Instructions thereunder with a view towards providing an opportunity for applicants who file an international application under the PCT designating a PCT Contracting State which, under its applicable national law, requires the disclosure of genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, to comply with any formality requirements related to such disclosure requirement either upon filing of the international application, with effect for all such Contracting States, or subsequently, upon entry into the national phase before an Office of any such Contracting States.” For more information, refer to PCT Newsletter 2024/06 [PDF].
IP data reports 2025 and 2024
The World Intellectual Property Indicators 2025 report is now available and analyzes IP activity around the world. Drawing on 2024 filing, registration and renewal statistics from national and regional IP offices and WIPO, it covers patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms, plant variety protection and geographical indications. The report also draws on survey data and industry sources to give a picture of activity in the creative economy.
The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 is available. The GII ranks world economies according to their innovation capabilities. Consisting of roughly 80 indicators, grouped into innovation inputs and outputs, the GII aims to capture the multi-dimensional facets of innovation. A summary of the findings of the new edition of the GII was published in a press release.
The WIPO Technology Trends 2025 Report – The Future of Transportation, being part of a series of reports that track technology trends through the analysis of patent and other data to provide solid, factual evidence on innovation in specific fields, reveals how innovation in the global transportation sector is increasingly focused on greener, more sustainable and futuristic technologies, such as air taxis, wireless charging for electric vehicles, and self-piloting cargo ships (for more information, please consult the press release).
The World Intangible Investment Highlights reports together with underlying data from the Global INTAN-Invest Database offer novel, up-to-date cross-country, quarterly and annual measures of investment into intangible assets, including those not included in official statistics.
The World Intellectual Property Report (WIPR) 2024 on “Making innovation policy work for development”, is available now (consult for more information).
The WIPO's IP Facts and Figures for 2024, providing an overview of IP activity, using the latest available year of complete statistics, is now also available.
PCT Success Stories
Do you have a PCT success story that you would like to share with us? If so, you can now share your story with WIPO and other users of the PCT about how the PCT helped you to seek protection for your invention. WIPO will highlight a selection of the submitted success stories on the PCT website and on WIPO social media. For further information, consult the dedicated webpage on PCT Success Stories.
PCT Cited as an Example of Multilateralism in Everyday Life
The United Nations (UN) has published on its website a page entitled “Global Issues: Multilateral System” listing examples of UN-related multilateralism in everyday life, stating that “Multilateralism plays a crucial role in shaping and enhancing many aspects of our daily lives, from the technology we use to the safety of international travel.”
Among the examples showing how multilateralism influences and improves our daily lives, it cites the PCT as one such example, stating “[t]he Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) streamlines patent protection across more than 150 countries, safeguarding inventions and advancing global innovation.”
Reminders
Learn the PCT video series
A series of 29 short videos (approximately 15 minutes each) presented by Matthias Reischle-Park, Deputy Director, PCT Legal and User Relations Division, WIPO [YouTube] (with subtitles now available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian for all videos, and also a Portuguese-subtitled version prepared by INPI Brazil and an Arabic-subtitled version prepared by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)). This series is:
- designed to provide a basic introduction to important aspects and issues in the international phase and national phase of PCT processing; and
- closely follows material covered during basic PCT training seminars and will be particularly useful for those who have not attended such seminars in person, for small and medium-sized enterprises, and for PCT users and potential users in developing and least-developed countries.
A webpage with links to a collection of 15 (free of charge) webinar recordings on aspects of the PCT (and associated materials) carried out by US-based PCT expert and WIPO consultant Carl Oppedahl is also available (for webinars on ePCT and PCT Forms refer to below webinars).
PCT Webinars
PCT Webinars are used to deliver PCT information, training and updates in ten languages free of charge; recorded webinars are available at PCT Webinars. WIPO will be pleased to organize private PCT seminars for your company or firm; for seminars open to the public, please consult the PCT Seminar Calendar.
- In November 2025, a series of a 15-part PCT lectures by Carl Oppedahl, an experienced patent attorney (Oppedahl Patent Law Firm LLC), WIPO PCT Consultant and PCT user was held and the recordings are available.
- In November 2024, a best practices series of 7 PCT webinars by Carl Oppedahl was held and the recordings are available.
- In March 2023, a series of 16 ePCT training webinars was held by Carl. The recordings and supporting documents for this webinar series are available.
- In December 2023, Carl also organized a free series of four webinars about PCT forms. The recordings of the four webinars are available.
- A special series of webinars: "Exploring the PCT", with an advanced PCT audience in mind, was held from April 2021 in all 10 PCT publication languages.
- PCT presentations within the context of Roving Webinars on all WIPO Services and Initiatives are available.
Introductory PCT Distance learning course
The DL101PCT 4 hour course provides an introduction and general overview of PCT; it is complemented with self-assessment tools that are strategically placed throughout the course to measure understanding and progress and it is available in ten languages.
Supplementary International Search
- Requesting one or more supplementary international searches (SIS), during the international phase procedure, expands both the linguistic and technical scope of the search
- SIS addresses PCT applicants' concerns about new prior art being found once they have already entered the national phase and provides extra information in cases where the applicant believes that the commercial value of an invention warrants the additional expense in the international phase.
- Get an introduction into SIS by a short video or the relevant part of the Applicant's Guide.
Resources for SMEs: WIPO IP Diagnostics, Guide for empowering businesses, SME Support Series in PCT Newsletter
As part of WIPO’s ongoing effort to strengthen its program of support for the business sector, WIPO developed, in collaboration with the International Trade Center (ITC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), WIPO IP Diagnostics. WIPO IP Diagnostics is a free, self-assessment tool designed to help small businesses identify their IP assets and determine how to protect, manage and leverage these assets to unlock new commercial opportunities. Further, a guide “Enterprising Ideas: A Guide to Intellectual Property for Startups” is also available. Starting in April 2025, the PCT Newsletter will periodically contain articles addressing topics of interest to SMEs, forming part of a new series (refer to first article “How to begin the process of seeking patent protection for your invention internationally using the PCT” in PCT/Newsletter No. 04/2025, page 8 and to second article “How to manage application filing costs as an SME” in PCT/Newsletter No. 09/2025, page 8). The WIPO Global Awards 2026 are now open for startups and SMEs worldwide.
The PATENTSCOPE database
- PATENTSCOPE offers free access to over 5.4 million PCT applications as part of its collection of 127 million patent documents.
- Contains the national patent data collections of 83 national or regional patent Offices.
- The interface features a number of powerful tools, including cross-lingual and chemical compound (including substructures and Markush) searches, XML data and hyperlinks to citations in international search reports, as well as AI-powered machine translation (WIPO Translate in 18 languages). Information on patent families and non-patent literature was added and extended recently. Standard Essential Patent (SEP) Declarations were also added and expanded to verified SEP information.
- Information on national phase processing of PCT applications is now available for 84 Offices. Global Dossier public information is available for 10 Offices.
- The redesigned version of the Patent Register Portal contains legal status information for over 200 national and regional collections, including a search functionality by PCT application number. The new tool WIPO Inspire provides a collection of reports on different functionalities of patent databases.
DAS
The WIPO Digital Access Service (DAS) is an electronic system allowing priority documents and similar documents to be securely exchanged between participating intellectual property (IP) offices, including for PCT purposes (further information). DAS is generally free of charge and simplifies providing priority documents previously exchanged by paper. Many Offices joined DAS recently (consult WIPO DAS News).
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot (PCT-PPH)
PCT-PPH pathways enable applicants to request a fast track examination procedure.
- 50 per cent of overall PPH is PCT-PPH.
- Data from selected Offices show that PCT-PPH requests have a higher grant rate and a higher first Office action allowance rate than all applications combined. The average pendency rate from the PCT-PPH request to final decision less than for all applications combined consult JPO PPH webpage: and the PCT Yearly Review 2024 [PDF], C28
- Further available: video on user experience, Carl Oppedahl [YouTube].
More about other worksharing initiatives among Offices.
WIPO GREEN
A platform that matches owners of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) with those seeking licensing or partnership agreements. Listing your ESTs in the WIPO GREEN platform is free of charge and offers a practical additional means for seeking potential licensees or partners.
WIPO Arbitration & Mediation Center
Gives 25% reduction in the registration and administration fees for its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services where at least one party to the dispute has been named as an applicant or inventor in a published PCT application (PCT Newsletter, June 2012, page 8 [PDF]).
WIPO Inventor Assistance Program
The WIPO Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) aims at matching developing country inventors and small businesses with patent attorneys providing pro bono legal assistance.