PCT Newsletter
January 2026 | No. 01/2026
New PCT Rules Strengthen International Patent Searches
New amendments to the PCT Regulations entered into force on 1 January 2026. Amendments to PCT Rules 34, 36 and 63 set out a revised definition of the minimum documentation that an International Searching Authority is required to consult during international search, along with changes to the minimum requirements that an International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority needs to satisfy before it can be appointed and that it needs to continue to satisfy during its appointment. Nineteen additional national patent collections have been included.
Amendments to PCT Rules 33 and 64 had the effect of broadening the definition of relevant prior art for international search and preliminary examination to include non-written disclosures. At the same time, PCT International Searching Authorities and the patent Offices of Contracting States have begun exchanging the full text of patent applications, replacing image-only formats that were still used in some cases.
These changes will enable more comprehensive searches for applicants, with broader geographic coverage and types of prior art being identified. Most of the newly included patent collections are already available through the PATENTSCOPE database. Details on rule changes can be found at PCT Newsletter 12/2025. For more information on the rule change impacts, consult the news at:
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