PCT Newsletter
December 2025 | No. 12/2025
Filing and Processing in Electronic Form of International Applications
AT Austria (accepts APO’s web-based Online Filing and ePCT Filing)
The Austrian Patent Office (APO), in its capacity as receiving Office, began accepting the filing of international applications in electronic form using APO’s web-based Online Filing system on 14 November 2025. Consequently, the Office accepts international applications in electronic form via:
– ePCT Filing
– APO’s web-based Online Filing
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C(AT))
AZ Azerbaijan (accepts ePCT Filing and PANAH system)
The Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in its capacity as receiving Office, has accepted the filing of international applications in electronic form using the PANAH system since 1 January 2024. Consequently, the Office accepts international applications in electronic form via: ePCT Filing and PANAH system.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C(AZ))
EP European Patent Office (accepts data carriers only containing large sequence listings)
The European Patent Office (EPO), in its capacity as receiving Office, International Searching Authority, Authority specified for supplementary search, and International Preliminary Examining Authority, will only allow sequence listings filed on data carriers/physical media when exceeding the maximum upload size limit in using EPO Online Filing 2.0, and the EPO Contingency Upload Service. EPO Online Filing will be discontinued with effect from 1 January 2026, and it will no longer be possible to file an entire application on a data carrier.
The EPO accepts the following physical media for large sequence listings: CD-R conforming to the ISO 9660 standard, DVD-R discs, DVD+ discs, and USB flash drives.
LT Lithuania (EPO Online Filing (eOLF) discontinuation)
The State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania has discontinued EPO Online Filing (OLF) as an electronic filing software with effect from 27 March 2024. The Office accepts international applications, other documents, and correspondence in electronic form via ePCT Filing.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C(LT))
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