Update: Resolution of technical issue when filing sequence listings using version 2.1.0 or 2.1.1 of the WIPO Sequence software

August 5, 2022

Update

The International Bureau has now released version 2.1.2 which fixes the technical issue in versions 2.1.0 and 2.1.1 of the WIPO Sequence software (described below). Users are therefore encouraged to update the software when prompted with the auto-update message before authoring their next sequence listing.

Previously reported issue

It has been brought to the attention of the International Bureau of WIPO that, when applicants use version 2.1.0 and 2.1.1 of the WIPO Sequence software to prepare sequence listings in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.26, certain technical issues in the software can cause potential problems in the resulting ST.26 sequence listings. Most importantly, in some circumstances, one or more sequences may have feature tables missing in the exported sequence listing file despite the fact that correct data has been entered in the software.

For sequence listing created using versions 2.1.0 and 2.1.1, it is advisable to validate your sequence listing using WIPO Sequence after it has been generated to ensure that there are no issues with your sequence listing. If your verification report indicates “The mandatory feature table is missing from this sequence”, then we recommend that you follow these steps to resolve the issue before filing:

  1. Go to WIPO Sequence software and press ‘Import sequence listing';
  2. Give a different name to the project so that you will be able to find it in the list of projects;
  3. Check the boxes to import all general information part and all sequences;
  4. Once the sequence listing has been imported, navigate to the sequence(s) that had the missing feature table error. You will notice that the qualifiers mol_type and organism of the ‘source' feature are blank, i.e., they contain no data;
  5. Add the correct data to the qualifiers mol_type and organism as you did in the initial project;
  6. Enter any additional features and qualifiers for the sequence(s) that had the error;
  7. Validate the project;
  8. Generate the sequence listing; and
  9. Validate the sequence listing by using ‘Validate Sequence Listing' function of WIPO Sequence. This time there should be NO error about a missing feature table for the given sequence.

For more information about this and other relevant technical issues, please refer to WIPO Sequence and ST.26 Knowledge Base: Trouble-shooting.

For PCT applications which have already been filed, the International Bureau is working with relevant receiving Offices to find reasonable solutions to help applicants remedy any issues that have already been caused by the technical issue with the software mentioned above. Should any PCT applicant have encountered such problems, please immediately contact the International Bureau or the respective receiving Office.

As indicated above, WIPO strongly advises all PCT applicants to download and use the latest version of the WIPO Sequence software.