PCT Newsletter 11/2022: Practical Advice
WARNING: Although the information which follows was correct at the time of original publication in the PCT Newsletter, some information may no longer be applicable; for example, amendments may have been made to the PCT Regulations and Administrative Instructions, as well as to PCT Forms, since the PCT Newsletter concerned was published; changes to certain fees and references to certain publications may no longer be valid. Wherever there is a reference to a PCT Rule, please check carefully whether the Rule in force at the date of publication of the advice has since been amended.
PCT Training material available from WIPO
Q: I am a trainee patent attorney at a patent law firm and would like to know if WIPO provides any training courses or material that could be useful, not only to me, but also to fellow trainees, on the role of the Patent Cooporation Treaty (PCT) System and how to file international patent applications using ePCT.
A: WIPO is committed to ensuring that no matter where and regardless of their level of experience with patents, everyone who wishes to protect and benefit from their intellectual property is provided with the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to do so. WIPO strongly believes that the act of fostering and supporting creativity has the ability to impact us all positively and for generations to come.
WIPO provides many forms of training on a wide range of IP-related subjects. In this respect, a wealth of training material is readily available on our website. In addition, WIPO speakers regularly take part in training sessions open to the public, both virtually and in-person. Training programs tailored to specific training needs are also provided to individual companies, associations and IP Offices.
PCT Distance Learning Course
The Distance Learning Course on the PCT (PCT DL101 Introduction to the PCT) provided by the WIPO Academy is open to any individual wishing to obtain a general understanding of the PCT System and is available in 10 languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). This free of charge self-study course was developed by WIPO PCT specialists, and consists of 14 modules with self-assessment tools strategically placed throughout to aid students evaluate their own progress. It takes an average of 6-8 hours for students to complete the course following which a certificate of completion is automatically delivered to all those who successfully complete the entire course.
More information and registration for the course can be found at:
https://welc.wipo.int/acc/index.jsf?page=courseCatalog.xhtml&lang=en&cc=PCT_101E#plus_PCT_101E
Learn the PCT – video series
This video series on the PCT System currently covers 29 topics relating to both the international and national phases of the international patent application process.
The videos explain how the PCT assists applicants in seeking patent protection for inventions in multiple countries by filing a single “international” application. The videos are available from the WIPO web site in English with optional subtitles for selected videos in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian (and also a Portuguese-subtitled version prepared by INPI Brazil and Arabic-subtitled version prepared by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)) at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/training/index.html
and on You Tube at:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsm_LOEppJawGEathiEBhgNEHmuHgZk9C
PCT webinars
Webinars are used by WIPO to deliver PCT and ePCT information, training and updates virtually to remote audiences. Both the recordings and the documentation of the live sessions are available on the PCT language-specific webinar pages at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/ar/seminar/webinars/index.html (Arabic)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/zh/seminar/webinars/index.html (Chinese)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/webinars/index.html (English)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/seminar/webinars/index.html (French)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/de/seminar/webinars/index.html (German)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/ja/seminar/webinars/index.html (Japanese)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/ko/seminar/webinars/index.html (Korean)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/pt/seminar/webinars/index.html (Portuguese)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/ru/seminar/webinars/index.html (Russian)
https://www.wipo.int/pct/es/seminar/webinars/index.html (Spanish)
/en/web/epct/learnmore?N=1631 (for ePCT webinar recordings)
In addition, firms, companies and organizations may request tailor-made webinars on specific PCT topics by sending an e-mail to:
pct.training@wipo.int
PCT seminars
PCT speakers regularly participate in seminars held worldwide in various languages and open to all members of the public. The list of upcoming seminars is available in the monthly PCT Newsletter calendar at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/seminar.pdf
Seminar Materials on the PCT can be found at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/basic_1/index.html
ePCT Video Tutorials for IP Offices and Applicants
The ePCT video tutorials have been created to provide detailed step-by-step information, to both Offices and applicants, on ePCT and its functionalities. The video tutorials are currently available in English only at:
/en/web/epct/index_epct_tutorials.html
PATENTSCOPE training
Free webinars and video tutorials are also available on the subject of the PATENTSCOPE database. Video tutorials are available in English only at:
https://www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/
External PCT training resources
The recordings of a series of 15 virtual lectures, aired between 8 February and 18 March 2022, on various PCT topics such as docketing, filing and strategic use, organized and delivered by WIPO PCT consultant, Mr. Carl Oppedahl, in collaboration with the law firm Schwegman, Lundberg and Woessner (mostly aimed at a US audience) are available for download at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/training/external-training.html
Other resources
In addition to training materials, the PCT has made available many useful resources that aid applicants in seeking international patent protection for their inventions, assist IP Offices with their patent granting decisions, and facilitate public access to a wealth of technical information relating to those inventions:
- PCT Applicant’s Guide
The PCT Applicant’s Guide (the Guide) consists of general information on the PCT intended for those interested in filing international patent applications, in particular, information on the “international phase” of the PCT procedure and general information on the “national phase” of the PCT procedure, namely the procedure before the designated (or elected) Offices. It is updated regularly and is supplemented by a number of Annexes containing more detailed information searchable at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/guide/index.html
Additionally, as of 31 October 2022, in order to assist candidates in the preparation of training materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) for prospective European patent attorneys or for the European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC) for patent administrators, the International Bureau, with the agreement of the Examination Board for the EQE and the EPAC Board, has made available a special edition of the PCT Applicant's Guide containing individual annexes and the introductions to the International Phase and the National Phase as a new searchable web-application. This can be found at:
https://pctlegal.wipo.int/eGuide/eqe/documents.xhtml
- Protecting you Inventions Abroad: Frequently Asked Questions about the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
This collection of basic FAQs outlines the PCT procedure from an applicant’s perspective:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/faqs/faqs.html
- FAQs about ePCT
The PCT eServices HELP page contains a large collection of frequently asked questions and support material about the ePCT system and also Digital Access System (DAS) and the Third Party Observations system, available at:
https://pct.wipo.int/pct/en/epct/pdf/pct_wipo_accounts_faq.html
- PCT Summary for New Users
A short video on “The PCT: Seeking Patent Protection Beyond Borders” and a short summary for new users that explains how the PCT System works as part of a strategy to protect one’s invention in countries other than one’s own, can be found at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/users/summary.html
- PCT Highlights
The WIPO website provides an overview of recent and future developments of the PCT System for business owners or senior patent attorneys at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/highlights/
- On-demand training
Please send an e-mail to pct.training@wipo.int or pct.eservices@wipo.int if your firm is interested in receiving tailor-made training on a particular PCT or ePCT topic.