The Meeting of International Authorities under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) concluded its thirty-third session on October 29, 2026, with outcomes aimed at strengthening the quality, efficiency and accessibility of international patent search and examination services.
International Authorities approved a significant update to the scientific and technical literature used in international patent searches. Key outcomes also included providing input on a review of the future of supplementary international search and advancing initiatives to improve search and examination practices through technological innovation and closer collaboration.
The meeting also considered recommendations from the PCT Quality Subgroup, which met on October 26 and 27 to examine practical ways to improve the quality and consistency of international search and preliminary examination.
Key Meeting Outcomes
Updating the literature used in international patent searches
International Authorities approved a major revision of the list of non-patent literature (NPL) that must be included in the minimum documentation available to International Searching Authorities.
The update, the first comprehensive revision of its kind in many years, follows an extensive review conducted in 2026 under the leadership of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The revised list adds seven scientific and technical journals, selected based on their relevance to patent searches and other criteria, while removing discontinued or rarely cited publications.
The changes aim to ensure that International Searching Authorities have access to relevant, up-to-date technical information when assessing inventions, which helps support more comprehensive and reliable international searches.
For users of the international patent system, these changes offer a stronger basis for assessing the patentability of their inventions and making informed decisions about pursuing patent protection. It also benefits patent Offices and the wider patent system by improving the information available for examining patent applications and identifying existing technologies.
Reviewing the future of supplementary international search
International Authorities expressed support for the possible abolition of supplementary international search, reflecting significant improvements in the quality and coverage of international patent searches since the service was introduced.
Supplementary international search was originally intended to give applicants the option of requesting an additional search by another International Searching Authority, helping to address potential gaps in prior art coverage.
However, advances in search technologies, broader access to patent databases and increasingly effective machine translation tools have substantially reduced these gaps, allowing International Authorities to conduct more comprehensive searches across languages and jurisdictions.
Over time, these improvements have meant that applicants can increasingly rely on the main PCT international search for a comprehensive picture of relevant prior art. Given these developments, International Authorities supported consulting PCT users and designated Offices on its possible abolition.
The International Bureau of WIPO will seek feedback from PCT Contracting States to inform the PCT Assembly's review of the supplementary international search system.
Improving quality through technology and collaboration
The PCT Quality Subgroup, which supports the Meeting of International Authorities by examining technical and operational issues related to the quality of international search and preliminary examination, also advanced work to strengthen the quality and efficiency of international search and examination.
During its sixteenth informal meeting on October 26 and 27, 2026, International Authorities discussed emerging issues, including:
- Exploring the responsible use of AI in patent search and examination, while maintaining human oversight and examiner expertise.
- Examining approaches to converting patent documentation into digital formats, including the opportunities offered by AI-assisted technologies.
- Exploring how data on the characteristics of international search reports can support quality management and improvements to search practices.
The Quality Subgroup also recommended making a new interactive tool publicly available to help users explore and compare alternative practices followed by International Authorities under the PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines.
The tool would provide a more accessible way to understand differences in search and examination practices among Authorities, improving transparency for users and access to practical information.
Benefits for PCT Users and Patent Systems
Together, these developments reflect continued efforts to adapt the PCT System to advances in technology and the evolving needs of applicants and patent Offices.
By improving access to relevant technical information, encouraging the responsible use of emerging technologies and strengthening cooperation among International Authorities, the initiatives contribute to a more efficient, transparent, and reliable international patent system.
Beyond supporting applicants in making informed decisions about patent protection, high-quality international search and examination also benefits patent Offices during the national and regional phases and helps maintain confidence in the patent system as a whole.
About the Meeting of International Authorities
The Meeting of International Authorities under the PCT brings together national and regional patent Offices responsible for international search and preliminary examination. It provides a forum for cooperation, discussion and recommendations on technical and operational matters affecting the quality and efficiency of these services.
The PCT Quality Subgroup supports this work by facilitating exchanges of experience, reviewing quality management practices and developing recommendations for consideration by the Meeting of International Authorities.
The thirty-third session was held virtually on October 28 and 29, 2026, following the sixteenth informal meeting of the PCT Quality Subgroup.