New Rules under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) entered into force on January 1, marking a significant step forward in the quality and scope of international patent searches.
What’s new
Amendments to PCT Rules 34, 36 and 63 expand the minimum documentation available to PCT International Searching Authorities, bringing in 19 additional national patent collections. Further collections are expected to follow, steadily broadening the global patent data underpinning PCT searches.
At the same time, PCT International Searching Authorities and IP Offices of participating PCT members (known as “Contracting States”) have begun exchanging the full text of patent applications, replacing image-only formats that were still used in some cases. This shift enables more precise, text-based searching and analysis, substantially improving the depth and reliability of prior art searches.
Benefits for PCT users and beyond
More comprehensive searches for applicants
For PCT users, these changes translate into more robust international search reports and written opinions. With new collections being consulted, applicants can expect to see prior art citations drawn from a wider range of jurisdictions, including Brazil, Egypt, India, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and others.
This broader geographic coverage strengthens the global relevance of PCT searches. It reduces the likelihood that relevant prior art will surface only at later national or regional phases, where amendments are more costly and legally complex.
Benefits for the patent system as a whole
The impact of the amended Rules extends well beyond individual applicants. A richer and more reliable search base:
- helps prevent the grant of weak or overly broad patents
- supports stronger and more defensible patent rights and
- contributes to a more transparent and balanced international patent system.
High-quality search is foundational to patent quality. When examiners have access to comprehensive patent literature from a wide range of jurisdictions, examination outcomes become more predictable and more consistent across Offices. This, in turn, enhances trust in patent filing and granting systems worldwide.
Expanded access through PATENTSCOPE
Most of the newly included patent collections are, or will soon be, available through the PATENTSCOPE database. WIPO is working to make the full text of more of these documents accessible to the public, as well as adding additional collections to the database
Innovators, researchers and the public worldwide will benefit from access to this expanded body of patent information, often in original languages. Greater visibility of existing technical knowledge makes it easier to avoid duplication, identify collaboration opportunities, and build on prior innovations to bring new technologies to market.
An ongoing commitment to global innovation
Effective international patent protection depends on high-quality search and examination. For applicants, this means greater legal certainty that their inventions are genuinely new and inventive. For patent Offices, it requires timely access to comprehensive and reliable patent data from as many sources as possible.
Since 2023, when the PCT Union adopted these rule changes, PCT administrators and national and regional patent Offices have worked closely to implement them in practice. The result is a stronger, more inclusive search framework that better reflects the global nature of innovation today.
These improvements underscore the PCT System’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, user-focused services that support innovation on a truly international scale.
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