PCT Highlights
PCT recent and future developments
PCT Advanced Seminar in Geneva, September 30 and October 1, 2026
The 2026 edition of WIPO's flagship seminar brings together experienced users who work with the PCT System every day, and PCT experts. Designed for seasoned practitioners and patent professionals, this Advanced Seminar offers two days of lectures, practical discussions, and hands-on sessions. Registration and more information for the two-day seminar on September 30 and October 1, 2026 is available.
Email updates
PCT Assembly reappoints all existing 25 ISA/IPEAs and newly appoints the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI); Rule changes adopted
The PCT Assembly, at its 58th session, held in Geneva from 9 to 17 July 2026 (the meeting documents for the session are available online, and a draft report has been published on the same web page), has approved the recommendations made by the PCT Working Group and the PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation (CTC) in February 2026:
- extended the appointment of all 25 existing International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities until 31 December 2037 (document PCT/A/58/2).
- appointed the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) as a new International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA); and
- adopted a range of amendments to the PCT Regulations and modifications to Directives of the Assembly (document PCT/A/58/1) as follows:
- Changes aimed at improving electronic services and providing a higher degree of protection for personal data provided for PCT processing. These amendments will require the provision of an email address and a telephone number for processing an international application, allow the exclusion of certain personal data from public access, and provide a basis for changing the address to which correspondence is to be addressed later than 30 months from the priority date. They will take effect from 1 July 2027.
- Changes supporting the use of a new model agreement that forms the basis of the agreements that each Office or organization will have with the International Bureau in relation to its functioning as an ISA/IPEA from 1 January 2028. The new draft agreements – each of which was also approved by the Assembly – no longer have separate annexes setting out the operational information for the relevant ISA/IPEA; this information will be published in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) and reflected in the PCT Applicant’s Guide.
- Changes to clarify that the processing of an international application considered withdrawn following failure to supply an electronic copy of an international application filed on paper in accordance with Rule 89bis.1(d-ter) will take place in the same way as other cases where the receiving Office declares that an international application is considered withdrawn.
- a minor correction of the French version of Rule 26.3ter.
- and, modifications to Directives of the PCT Assembly relating to the Establishment of Equivalent Amounts of Certain Fees. The modified Directives will apply from 1 January 2027 (as also set out in document PCT/A/58/1). The changes will streamline the process for establishing equivalent amounts in different currencies when the amount of a fee is changed, and will also reduce the time for a new equivalent amount to take effect following a fluctuation in the relevant exchange rate.
PCT Yearly Review 2026 now available: PCT filings rise again in 2025
| 1 | China | 73,718 | 26.7% |
| 2 | United States of America | 52,617 | 19.1% |
| 3 | Japan | 47,922 | 17.4% |
| 4 | Republic of Korea | 25,016 | 9.1% |
| 5 | Germany | 16,441 | 6.0% |
| 6 | France | 7,778 | 2.8% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 5,809 | 2.1% |
| 8 | Switzerland | 5,012 | 1.8% |
| 9 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 4,239 | 1.5% |
| 10 | Sweden | 3,857 | 1.4% |
New PCT Contracting State Bahamas (Country code: BS)
On 19 May 2026, the Bahamas deposited its instrument of accession to the PCT, thus becoming the 159th Contracting State of the PCT , and on 19 August 2026, the Bahamas became bound by the PCT. Consequently, any international application filed on or after 19 August 2026 will automatically include the designation of Bahamas.
Information about the Bahamas’ functioning as a PCT receiving Office and designated Office will be available soon in the PCT Applicant’s Guide (country code: BS). For further information, please consult the PCT Newsletter 05/2026 [PDF]
Developments in the PCT Applicant’s Guide – Japanese eGuide version
The fully electronic version format of the PCT Applicant’s Guide (“eGuide” as introduced in 2022 in English and French) has been fully extended in July 2026 to Japanese as pilot and further language versions will be available in the future. All Annexes to the Guide are now accessible in the eGuide application in Japanese, in addition to English and French. Consult: The PCT Applicant's Guide.
PCT Working Group – Eighteenth Session
The eighteenth session of the PCT Working Group resumed in Geneva on 2 February 2026, following its previous discussions in 2025. In addition to the rule changes which have been adopted by the PCT Assembly in July 2026, the Working Group also discussed the following issues:
- Filing medium for entering the national phase before designated Offices
A study on electronic-only national phase entry and proposals to amend the PCT Regulations that would enable designated or elected Offices to require national phase entry by electronic means, subject to certain conditions (refer to document PCT/WG/18/4 Rev.)
- International publication-related processes
Changes to the format of international publication that would separate the international search report and any possible statements concerning claims amended under Article 19, which would simplify the publication process and facilitate further text-based processing (refer to document PCT/WG/18/13).
The Republic of Moldova Joins the European Patent Organisation (EPO)
Reminder: Amendments to the PCT Regulations - Entry into force 1 January 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.
PCT MIA meeting
The next Meeting of International Authorities (MIA) takes place from October 28 to 29, 2026. Working documents will be made available.
ePCT and electronic filing and managing update
New versions of the WIPO Sequence Suite are regularly released. WIPO Sequence Suite is a global software tool that enables patent applicants to prepare amino acid and nucleotide sequence listings compliant with WIPO Standard ST.26 as part of a national or international patent application.
The New WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge: PCT Implications
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 2026
The World Intangible Investment Highlights 2026 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. Co-published annually by the WIPO in partnership with the Luiss Business School (LBS), this second edition of the World Intangible Investment Highlights (WIIH) reveals that intangible investment in the global economy has grown well over three times faster than tangible investment since 2008, despite economic headwinds and business uncertainty.
Patent Trends Update in GenAI, the latest 2026 report in WIPO’s Technology SPARK series, builds on a previous patent landscape report to identify key developments in this fast-evolving field.
WIPO has also released a Patent Landscape Report: Decarbonizing Heavy-Duty Road Transport examining trends in technologies that enable the decarbonization of heavy-duty road transport. Developed in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the new study examines more than 158,000 patent families published between 2000 and 2024 to provide a comprehensive overview of innovation in core technology areas. For more information, refer to the press release . The previously released 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 Intellectual Property Report (WIPR) 2026 on “Technology on the Move”, is available now (consult for more information).
The WIPO's IP Facts and Figures for 2025, providing an overview of IP activity, using the latest available year of complete statistics, is now also available.
The World Intellectual Property Indicators 2025 report is now available and analyses 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 GII 2026 will be released on 29 September 2026.
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 GII 2026 will be released on 29 September 2026.
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.”
Reminders
Learn the PCT video series
- 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.
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
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 latest article of the
PCT SME Support Series (No. 3) deals with “How to use the PCT timeline strategically”.
The winners of the WIPO Global Awards 2026, open for startups and SMEs worldwide, were revealed.
The PATENTSCOPE database
- PATENTSCOPE offers free access to over 5.4 million PCT applications as part of its collection of 128 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 AI-assisted, 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
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot (PCT-PPH)
- 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].