PCT Notification No. 214
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Certified Copy
Amendments to the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Adopted on October 2, 2018, by the Assembly of the International Patent Cooperation Union (PCT Union) at its Fiftieth (29th Extraordinary) Session held from September 24 to October 2, 2018, with effect from July 1, 2019
Table of Amendments [1]
AMENDMENTS [2]
Rule 69
Start of and Time Limit for International Preliminary Examination
69.1 Start of International Preliminary Examination
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e), the International Preliminary Examining Authority shall start the international preliminary examination when it is in possession of all of the following:
(i) the demand;
(ii) the amount due (in full) for the handling fee and the preliminary examination fee, including, where applicable, the late payment fee under Rule 58bis.2; and
(iii) either the international search report or the declaration by the International Searching Authority under Article 17(2)(a) that no international search report will be established, and the written opinion established under Rule 43bis.1;
unless the applicant expressly requests to postpone the start of the international preliminary examination until the expiration of the applicable time limit under Rule 54bis.1(a).
(b) to (e) [No change]
69.2 [No change]
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original text, in English, of the amendments to the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) adopted on October 2, 2018, by the Assembly of the International Patent Cooperation Union (PCT Union) at its fiftieth (29th extraordinary) session held from September 24 to October 2, 2018, with effect from July 1, 2019.
Francis Gurry
Director General
World Intellectual Property Organization
January 30, 2019
1. The amendments shall enter into force on July 1, 2019, and shall apply to any international application in respect of which a demand for international preliminary examination is made on, or after, that date.
2. The following reproduces, for each Rule that was amended, the amended text. Where a part of any such Rule has not been amended, the indication "[No change]" appears.