Proposals for Change (PFCs) to the PCT e-Filing Standard

Part 7 and Annex F of the Administrative Instructions under the PCT contain, respectively, the necessary legal framework and technical standard for electronic filing and processing of international applications under the PCT.

Change procedure

A special change procedure for the proposal, consideration and implementation of future modifications of the standard is set out in section 2.5 of Annex F.

Proposals for change (PFCs)

Several PFCs were received or prepared by the International Bureau (IB) and made available as PFC files. Comments and recommendations received are included as Annexes to the PFC files concerned.

​​​​​​​
  • PCT/EF/PFC 21/003: Changes to Annex F (Modification of Annex F and appendix I in respect of ST.26)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 21/002: Changes to Annex F, section 6 (Modification in preparation for the eventual decommissioning of the PCT-SAFE software)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 21/001: Changes to Annex F, section 5.1ter (Addition of alternative means of secure online transmission by recipient retrieval)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 20/006: Modification of rel-passage element to allow the inclusion of additional information regarding the citation and passage
  • PCT/EF/PFC 20/005: Modification of sequence-list element to allow the inclusion of sequence listings according to WIPO Standard ST.26 in packages transmitted in filing and processing
  • PCT/EF/PFC 20/004: Modification of statement element to allow the author to break the statement into sections
  • PCT/EF/PFC 20/003: Modification of package-data element to allow the inclusion of earlier search letters for ‘PCT Direct'
  • PCT/EF/PFC 20/002: Modification of application-documents-group to allow the possibility of multiple top-up searches
  • PCT/EF/PFC 20/001: Modification of the DTD for the written opinion (ISA/237)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 19/001: Modification of the DTD for the PCT Demand (IPEA/401)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 18/001: Modifications of the DTD for the PCT fee calculation sheet and the PCT fee calculation sheet chapter II
  • PCT/EF/PFC 17/005: Annex F of the PCT Administrative Instructions to add DOCX OOXML as a possible filing format for the patent specification and add PNG to list of supported image formats. (Supplemental information highlighting proposed changes) (process suspended)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 17/004: Modifications of the DTDs for search report and written opinion to make the DTDs currently used in production official (DTDs and supplemental information)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 17/003: Modifications of the DTDs for the request and application body to add an indicator of color drawings in the application
  • PCT/EF/PFC 17/002: Modifications of the DTDs for the request and declaration to simplify the correlation of parties in editing declarations and the PCT request
  • PCT/EF/PFC 17/001: Modifications of the DTDs for the request to address the requirements for the changes to the request form required for PCT Rule 23bis
  • PCT/EF/PFC 15/001: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (Modification of DTD for the PCT fee calculation sheet)
    proposal by the International Bureau
    (DTDs and supplemental information)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 14/002: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (Modification of PCT Demand DTD)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 14/001: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (Modification of PCT Demand DTD)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 12/001: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (Modification of DTD for Priority Document Digital Access Service)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/007: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (fee-sheet update)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/006: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (amend-statement update)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/005: Updates to Document Type Definitions (DTDs) related to the usage of digital libraries in patent filing processes
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/004: Addition of TLS protocol alongside SSL as encryption communication protocol
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/003: Changes to referenced HASH algorithm standards
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/002: Changes to Annex F Appendix I, section 3.6 (sequence list)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 09/001: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (wo-bibliographic.DTD)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/010: Changes to Annex F (relating to the filing and processing of sequence listings)
    proposal by the International Bureau (extract from circular C. PCT 1149 - SCIT 2652)
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/009: Changes to Annex F (transmission protocol and formatting requirements)
    proposal by the United States Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/008: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (CAF)
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/007: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (sequence listings)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/006: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (e-mail)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/005: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (The XML tagging of corrections and changes)
    proposal by the European Patent Office and the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/004: Updates to package-data DTD adding some of the missing document types xmit-receipt, ro-requestreceiving-info and pre-conversion-filespackage
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/003: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (PCT 2008 Rule Changes)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/002: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (Priority Document Digital Access Service)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 08/001: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (power of attorney)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 07/001: Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.6 (fee sheet)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 06/005 Updates to DTDs in support of international publication (Annex F, Appendix I)
    ​​​​​​​proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 06/004 Updates to Annex F DTDs relating to modifications of the request (Annex F, Appendix I)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 06/003 Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (XML DTDs)
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 06/002 Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (XML DTDs)
    proposal by the International Bureau​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • PCT/EF/PFC 06/001 Changes to Annex F, Appendix I (XML DTDs)
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 05/003 Changes to Annex F, Appendix IV, section 4.4 (Accepted Media Types and Formats)
    proposal by the International Bureau​​​​​​​
  • PCT/EF/PFC 05/002 Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 3.4 (Declarations)
    proposal by the International Bureau and the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 05/001 Changes to Annex F, Appendix I, section 5.7 (IB publication)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 04/006 Changes to certain DTDs
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the International Bureau, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office​​​​​​
  • PCT/EF/PFC 04/005 New DTDs relating to the ISR and the IPER
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the International Bureau, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 04/004 Changes to certain DTDs
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the International Bureau, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 04/003 (withdrawn) Support for more transaction types in the package-data DTD for the Applicant-Office sector
    proposal by IP Australia
  • PCT/EF/PFC 04/002 Changes to various DTDs and to the recommended file naming convention
    proposal by the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 04/001 SSL Authentication
    proposal by the Japan Patent Office, the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 03/005 Corrections to version 1.2 DTDs
    ​​​​​​​proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 03/004 Corrections and additions to the recommended file naming convention and to Appendix I
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 03/003 [withdrawn]
  • PCT/EF/PFC 03/002 Corrections to version 1.1 DTDs
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 03/001 Corrections to the DTDs consequential to the modifications of the PCT Regulations which enter into force on January 1, 2004
    proposal by the International Bureau, the European Patent Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/013 Paragraph Numbering (Annex F, section 3.1.1.1.1)
  • proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/012 New XML DTDs for the E-PCT Standard (Annex F, Appendix I)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/011 Modifications of XML DTDs for the E-PCT Standard (Annex F, Appendix I)
    proposal by the International Bureau
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/010 Modifications of XML DTDs for the E-PCT Standard (Annex F, Appendix I)
    proposal by the European Patent Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/009 Electronic Packaging (Annex F, sections 5 and 7)
    proposal by the Korean Intellectual Property Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/008 Filing Requirements; Basic Common Standard (Part 7, Section 703)
    proposal by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/007 Package Header (Annex F, Appendix I, section 4.1)
    proposal by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/006 File Naming Convention (Annex F, addition)
    proposal by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/005 DTDs for New PCT applications (E-PCT) (Annex F, Appendix I, section 3)
    proposal by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/004 Package Header (Annex F, Appendix I, section 4.1)
    proposal by the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/003 Transmission (Annex F, section 5)
    proposal by the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/002 IA Documents Packaging (Annex F, section 4)
    proposal by the Japan Patent Office
  • PCT/EF/PFC 02/001 [withdrawn]

Consultative Group

Section 2.5 provided for the establishment of the PFC Consultative Group which is particularly involved in the consideration of proposals for change. When required, persons representing any Office, PCT Authority, intergovernmental organization or non-governmental organization participating in PCT meetings will be invited by the International Bureau to  join the Consultative Group at any time.

Contact us

For any questions, or to make further proposals for change or comments on current PFCs, please contact us.