PCT Newsletter
September 2026 | No. 09/2026
PCT information update
AU Australia (types of physical media accepted by the Office)
The Australian Patent Office has notified a change concerning the types of physical media accepted by the Authority for the furnishing of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listings in electronic form, under PCT Rule 13ter.1 and in accordance with Annex C of the Administrative Instructions under the PCT. The applicable requirement is now as follows:
An entire copy of the sequence listing and identifying data should be contained within one XML file (compliant with WIPO Standard ST.26) on a single USB drive.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex D (AU))
BS Bahamas (delegation of Receiving Office functions; competent International Searching Authorities; general information; deposit of biological material)
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
The Bahamas’ accession to the PCT as a new Contracting State took effect on 19 August 2026.
The Bahamas Intellectual Property Office (BAHIPO) has delegated its functions as receiving Office to the International Bureau of WIPO under PCT Rule 19.1(b).
At the time of writing, BAHIPO has specified the following as competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities for international applications filed by nationals and residents of the Bahamas:
- National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil) (with effect since 10 September 2026)
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office (with effect since 31 August 2026)
- National Institute of Industrial Property (Chile) (with effect since 19 August 2026)
- European Patent Office (EPO) (with effect since 19 August 2026).
General information about the Bahamas as a PCT Contracting State, as well as information about BAHIPO’s requirements as a designated Office under the PCT concerning the deposit of biological material, are now available in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes B and L (BS).
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes B and L (BS); and Annex C (IB))
CO Colombia (Office contact details; fees)
The location and mailing address and website address of the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia) have changed and are now as follows:
Location and mailing address: Calle 24 # 7-43 Edificio 7-24
Bogotá
D.C.
Colombia
Website: https://sedeelectronica.sic.gov.co/
Since 13 February 2026, the amount of the transmittal fee (PCT Rule 14) in Colombian pesos (COP) payable to the Office in its capacity as receiving Office has changed and is now COP 476,000.
Since the same date, the amounts of the annual fee component of the national fees payable to the Office as designated (or elected) Office have also changed and are now as follows:
For a patent: Online On paper
Annual fees:
– for the 1st to the 4th year (per year): COP 388,000 COP 466,000
(in case of late payment within a grace period
of six months from the due date: COP 577,500 COP 692,500)
In addition, the fee for reinstatement of rights (PCT Rule 49.6(d)(i)) has changed since the same date and is now COP 942,500 when filing electronically or COP 1,129,500 when filing on paper.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes B and C, and National Chapter, Summary (CO))
KR Republic of Korea (fees)
From 1 November 2026, there will be a change in the equivalent amount in won (KRW) of the handling fee payable to the Ministry of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea (MOIP), as indicated in the PCT Fee Tables.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex E (KR))
KZ Kazakhstan (Office telephone numbers and website address)
The telephone numbers and website address of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (NIIP) (Kazakhstan) have changed and are now as follows:
Telephone: (7-7172) 62 15 15
(7-727) 344 03 94 (Almaty Branch Office)
Website: https://kazpatent.kz/en/
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (KZ))
US United States of America (Office location and mailing address)
The location and mailing addresses of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have changed and are now as follows:
Location: United States Patent and Trademark Office
600 Dulany Street
Alexandria
VA 22314
United States of America
Mailing address: (for delivery by United States Postal Service (USPS))
Mail Stop PCT
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria
VA 22313-1450
United States of America
(for delivery by other delivery services)
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Customer Service Window, Mail Stop PCT
Knox Building, Room 1D80
501 Dulany Street
Alexandria
VA 22314
United States of America
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (US))
Search fee and other fees relating to international search (various Offices)
From 1 October 2026, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in the currencies specified below for international searches carried out by the following Offices:
China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).......................USD
National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil)............................................CHF
From 1 November 2026, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in the currencies specified below for international searches carried out by the following Offices:
Austrian Patent Office...................................................................................................KRW
Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO)......................................................................................CHF, EUR, USD
Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation)...........CHF, EUR, USD
Japan Patent Office (JPO)..............................................................................................KRW
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore...................................................................KRW
Ministry of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea (MOIP)..........................CHF, EUR, NZD, SGD, USD
The new amounts are indicated in Fee Table I(b).
Supplementary search fee (Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent)(Russian Federation))
From 1 November 2026, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in Swiss francs (CHF) for the supplementary search fee for supplementary international searches carried out by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation).
The new amounts are indicated in Fee Table I(c).
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex SISA (RU))
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