January 1, 2024 Changes to PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2024.
- International filing fee - $1,454
- International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,345
- International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,235
- Supplemental fee for each additional page over 30 - $16
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2024.
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fees required by the following International Searching Authorities and will go into effect January 1, 2024.
- European Patent Office (EPO) - $1,870
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) - $879
- IP Australia (IPAU) - $1,407
- Israel Patent Office (ILPO) - $997
- Japan Patent Office (JPO) - $1,129
- Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) - $1,633
December 1, 2023 Change to ILPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the ILPO will be $998 and will go into effect December 1, 2023.
November 1, 2023 Changes to Certain PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect November 1, 2023.
- International filing fee - $1,515
- International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,401
- International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,287
- Supplemental fee for each additional page over 30 - $17
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect November 1, 2023.
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,411 and will go into effect November 1, 2023.
September 1, 2023 Change to JPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the JPO will be $1,167 and will go into effect September 1, 2023.
April 1, 2023 Changes to Certain PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that new dollar amounts have been established for the following fees for small and micro entities and will go into effect April 1, 2023.
| Fee code | Description | Small entity fee | Micro entity fee |
|---|
| 2602/3602 | United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as International Searching Authority (ISA) | 872.00 | 436.00 |
| 2604/3604 | Supplemental search fee, per additional invention (payable only upon invitation) | 872.00 | 436.00 |
| 2605/3605 | Preliminary examination fee - USPTO was ISA in PCT Chapter I | 256.00 | 128.00 |
| 2606/3606 | Preliminary examination fee - USPTO was not ISA in PCT Chapter I | 320.00 | 160.00 |
| 2607/3607 | Additional examination fee, per additional invention (payable only upon invitation) | 256.00 | 128.00 |
| 2627/3627 | Late furnishing fee for providing a sequence listing in response to an invitation under PCT Rule 13ter | 128.00 | 64.00 |
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,523 and will go into effect April 1, 2023.
March 1, 2023 Changes to Certain PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect March 1, 2023.
- International filing fee - $1,435
- International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,327
- International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,219
- Supplemental fee for each additional page over 30 - $16
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect March 1, 2023.
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fees required by the following International Searching Authorities and will go into effect March 1, 2023.
- Israel Patent Office (ILPO) - $1,075
- Japan Patent Office (JPO) - $1,277
- Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) - $1,664
February 1, 2023 Change to Certain International Search Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the European Patent Office (EPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the EPO will be $1,875 and will go into effect February 1, 2023.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the KIPO will be $924 and will go into effect February 1, 2023.
January 1, 2023 Changes to PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2023.
- International filing fee - $1,346
- International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,245
- International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,144
- Supplemental fee for each additional page over 30 - $15
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2023.
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fees required by the following International Searching Authorities and will go into effect January 1, 2023.
- European Patent Office (EPO) - $1,734
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) - $826
- IP Australia (IPAU) - $1,419
- Israel Patent Office (ILPO) - $1,014
- Japan Patent Office (JPO) - $1,167
- Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) - $1,561
December 29, 2022 Changes to Certain Small and Micro Entity Fees
With the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (which included the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022) signed into law on December 29, 2022, most small and micro entity fees have decreased. The law increased small entity discounts from 50 percent to 60 percent and micro entity discounts from 75 percent to 80 percent. A rule notice will be published soon to update the fee amounts appearing under Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Termination of Rospatent as an ISA and IPEA for international applications
Effective December 1, 2022, applicants filing international applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Receiving Office under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) will not be able to select the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA). The news brief for this announcement was published June 1, 2022 and includes links to previous USPTO statements on this topic.
December 1, 2022 Change to KIPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the KIPO will be $881 and will go into effect December 1, 2022.
October 1, 2022 Change to Certain International Search Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the European Patent Office (EPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the EPO will be $1,816 and will go into effect October 1, 2022.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,502 and will go into effect October 1, 2022.
September 1, 2022 Change to JPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the JPO will be $1,250 and will go into effect September 1, 2022.
August 1, 2022 Change to Certain International Search Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the ILPO will be $1,065 and will go into effect August 1, 2022.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the KIPO will be $955 and will go into effect August 1, 2022.
July 1, 2022 Change to JPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the JPO will be $1,336 and will go into effect July 1, 2022.
June 1, 2022 Change to EPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the European Patent Office (EPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the EPO will be $1,946 and will go into effect June 1, 2022.
April 1, 2022 Change to JPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the JPO will be $1,475 and will go into effect April 1, 2022.
March 1, 2022 Change to ILPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the ILPO will be $1,174 and will go into effect March 1, 2022.
January 1, 2022 Changes to PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2022.
• International filing fee - $1,437
• International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,329
• International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,221
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2022.
• Handling fee - $216
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fees required by the following International Searching Authorities and will go into effect January 1, 2022.
• European Patent Office (EPO) - $2,065
• Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) - $1,011
• IP Australia (IPAU) - $1,604
• Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) - $549
• Israel Patent Office (ILPO) - $1,104
• Japan Patent Office (JPO) - $1,405
• Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) - $1,652
March 1, 2021 Changes to Certain International Search Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,697 and will go into effect March 1, 2021.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the Rospatent will be $543 and will go into effect March 1, 2021.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the ILPO will be $1,107 and will go into effect March 1, 2021.
January 1, 2021 Changes to PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2021.
• International filing fee - $1,453
• International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,344
• International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,235
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2021.
• Handling fee - $218
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fees required by the following International Searching Authorities and will go into effect January 1, 2021.
• European Patent Office (EPO) - $2,091
• Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) - $1,036
• IP Australia (IPAU) - $1,580
• Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) - $510
• Israel Patent Office (ILPO) - $1,051
• Japan Patent Office (JPO) - $1,476
• Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) - $1,646
December 1, 2020 Change to IP Australia Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,587 and will go into effect December 1, 2020.
November 1, 2020 Changes to Certain International Search Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the European Patent Office (EPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the EPO will be $2107 and will go into effect November 1, 2020.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the Rospatent will be $537 and will go into effect November 1, 2020.
October 2, 2020 Changes to Certain International and National Stage Fees
On August 3, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a final rule, “Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees during Fiscal Year 2020”, to set or increase certain patent fees, as authorized by the AIA. Pursuant to the final rule, the following fees associated with International Stage and National Stage will be changed and will go into effect October 2, 2020.
| Description | Regular | Small Entity | Micro Entity | Fee Code |
| INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION FEES (CHAPTER I) |
| (Fees associated with filing International Application under PCT) |
| |
| TRANSMITTAL FEE |
| Basic Portion | $260 | $130 | $65 | 1601/2601/3601 |
| |
| SEARCH FEE |
| United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as International Searching Authority (ISA) | $2180 | $1090 | $545 | 1602/2602/3602 |
| Supplemental search fee, per additional invention (payable only upon invitation) | $2180 | $1090 | $545 | 1604/2604/3604 |
| |
| MISCELLANEOUS FEES |
| Fee for transmitting IA to International Bureau as receiving Office under PCT Rule 19.4 | $260 | $130 | $65 | 1621/2621/3621 |
| Fee for requesting to restore the right of priority within two months from the expiration of the priority period | $2100 | $1050 | $525 | 1628/2628/3628 |
| Late furnishing fee for providing a sequence listing in response to an invitation under PCT Rule 13ter | $320 | $160 | $80 | 1627/2627/3627 |
| Description | Regular | Small Entity | Micro Entity | Fee Code |
| INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION FEES (CHAPTER II) |
| (Fees associated with filing Demand for International Preliminary Examination) |
| |
| PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION FEE |
| USPTO as International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) |
| USPTO was ISA in PCT Chapter I | $640 | $320 | $160 | 1605/2605/3605 |
| USPTO was not ISA in PCT Chapter I | $800 | $400 | $200 | 1606/2606/3606 |
| Additional examination fee, per additional invention (payable only upon invitation) | $640 | $320 | $160 | 1607/2607/3607 |
| Description | Regular | Small Entity | Micro Entity | Fee Code |
| U.S. NATIONAL STAGE FEES |
| (Fees associated with filing U. S. National Stage under 35 U.S.C. 371) |
| NATIONAL STAGE FEES |
| Basic national fee | $320 | $160 | $80 | 1631/2631/3631 |
| Examination fee |
| All other situations | $800 | $400 | $200 | 1633/2633/3633 |
| Search fee |
| International Search Report prepared by other than the US and provided to the USPTO or previously communicated to the US by the International Bureau | $540 | $270 | $135 | 1642/2642/3642 |
| All other situations | $700 | $350 | $175 | 1632/2632/3632 |
| OTHER NATIONAL STAGE FEES |
| For each independent claim in excess of 3 | $480 | $240 | $120 | 1614/2614/3614 |
| For each application containing a multiple dependent claim | $860 | $430 | $215 | 1616/2616/3616 |
| For every 50 sheets or fraction thereof of the specification and drawings that exceeds 100 sheets (excluding any sequence listing or computer program listing filed in an electronic medium) | $420 | $210 | $105 | 1681/2681/3681 |
| Surcharge for filing search fee, examination fee or oath or declaration after commencement of the national stage | $160 | $80 | $40 | 1617/2617/3617 |
| Fee for submission of Sequence Listing text file of 300 MB to 800 MB | $1060 | $530 | $265 | 1091/2091/3091 |
| Fee for submission of Sequence Listing text file of more than 800 MB | $10,500 | $5250 | $2625 | 1092/2092/3092 |
| FEES FOR REVIVING ABANDONED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS |
| Fee for filing a petition to revive an international application abandoned unintentionally under 37 CFR 1.137(a) | $2100 | $1050 | $525 | 1453/2453/3453 |
October 1, 2020 Changes to Certain Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect October 1, 2020.
- International filing fee (first 30 pages) - $1,446
- International filing fee (first 30 pages - filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file) - $1,337
- International filing fee (first 30 pages - filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file) - $1,229
- Supplemental fee (for each page over 30) - $16
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect October 1, 2020.
September 1, 2020 Changes to Certain International Search Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,507 and will go into effect September 1, 2020.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the Rospatent will be $578 and will go into effect September 1, 2020.
August 1, 2020 Change to Rospatent Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the Rospatent will be $532 and will go into effect August 1, 2020.
July 1, 2020 Change to IP Australia Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by IP Australia (IPAU) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the IPAU will be $1,341 and will go into effect July 1, 2020.
June 1, 2020 Change to Rospatent Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the Rospatent will be $501 and will go into effect June 1, 2020.
March 1, 2020 Change to ILPO Search Fee
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fee required by the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) when acting as an International Searching Authority. The new dollar amount of the search fee required by the ILPO will be $1,036 and will go into effect March 1, 2020.
January 1, 2020 Changes to PCT Fees
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amounts of the following fees for international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2020.
• International filing fee - $1,337
• International filing fee-filed electronically without ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,236
• International filing fee-filed electronically with ePCT or PCT-EASY .zip file - $1,136
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to the Swiss franc, the dollar amount for the handling fee required by USPTO when acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority will be changed and will go into effect January 1, 2020.
• Handling fee - $201
The International Bureau of the WIPO has informed the USPTO that a new dollar amount has been established for the search fees required by the following International Searching Authorities and will go into effect January 1, 2020.
• European Patent Office (EPO) - $1,950
• Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) - $1,003
• IP Australia (IPAU) - $1,483
• Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) - $616
• Israel Patent Office (ILPO) - $1,016
• Japan Patent Office (JPO) - $1,457
• Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) - $1,622
IP5 PCT Collaborative Search and Examination Pilot update
Beginning July 1, the USPTO will accept new international applications to the IP5 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Collaboration Search and Examination Pilot (CS&E). This pilot was launched by the five largest intellectual property offices in the world (IP5) on July 1, 2018. Visit the CS&E pilot webpage on the World Intellectual Property Organization website for more information on the number of applications accepted into the pilot.
The pilot allows examiners from all five offices, with different working languages, to collaborate on the search and examination of a single international application. The result is an international search report and written opinion from the chosen international searching authority based on contributions from all participating offices. Benefits to applicants include a search done by multiple examiners in different languages, increased predictability of outcome, and no extra cost. The pilot aims at assessing user interest for a CS&E product and the expected efficiency gains for offices.
The requirements for participation in the pilot include limits on the number of applications to be accepted. The USPTO, in its capacity as an International Searching Authority (ISA), has reached its first year limit for accepting applications into the pilot. The EPO, in their capacity as an ISA, previously announced that they have reached certain limits for acceptance of applications in the first year of the pilot.
For more details on the pilot, see the previously published Federal Register Notice and the CS&E pilot webpage on the USPTO website. Inquiries concerning the CS&E pilot may be directed to Michael Neas, Deputy Director, International Patent Legal Administration, by phone (571) 272-3289 or by email to michael.neas@uspto.gov.
Filing patent applications electronically during designated significant electronic filing system outages
Applicants who filed a patent application, including an international application under the PCT, from August 15 through and including August 23, 2018, may now request a refund of the non-electronic filing fee. Applicants who filed applications via EFS-Web or EFS-Web Contingency during this period do not need to do anything. For detailed information, please visit: https://www.uspto.gov/patent/fees-payment-information/filing-patent-applications-electronically-during-designated.
July 1, 2018 PCT Collaborative Search and Examination Pilot
On July 1, 2018, the five largest intellectual property offices in the world (IP5) launched a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Collaborative Search and Examination Pilot. The pilot allows examiners from all five offices, with different working languages, to collaborate on the search and examination of a single international application. The result is an international search report and written opinion from the chosen international searching authority based on contributions from all participating offices. Benefits to applicants include a search done by multiple examiners in different languages, increased predictability of outcome, and no extra cost.
For more information, including how to request to have an application included, view the Federal Register Notice or visit the pilot's page on the USPTO website.
January 16, 2018 Changes to certain fees
On November 14, 2017, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a final rule, “Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees during Fiscal Year 2017”, to set or increase certain patent fees, as authorized by the AIA. Pursuant to the final rule, certain International Stage and National Stage fees were changed/added effective January 16, 2018.
Use of WIPO’s ePCT system for preparing the PCT request for filing with RO/US
Beginning on June 1, 2016, the United States receiving office (RO/US) will accept international applications under the PCT that are filed electronically with a PCT Request prepared in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) ePCT system. ePCT allows users to generate a zip file containing a validated PCT Request; the zip file can then be submitted electronically to the RO/US as part of an international application filed using the USPTO’s electronic filing system (EFS-Web). Furthermore, like PCT-SAFE, the zip file generated by ePCT will entitle the applicant same reduction in international filing fees as indicated in item 4(b) of the PCT Schedule of Fees. For detailed information, please see https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-05-06/pdf/2016-10733.pdf.
Revised arrangement for the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) as ISA/IPEA
A revised arrangement has been made between Israel Patent Office (ILPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) concerning action of the ILPO as an ISA/IPEA under the PCT for certain international applications received by the USPTO as receiving Office (RO/US).
The conditions under which the ILPO will act as an ISA and IPEA for international applications filed with the RO/US have been changed with effect from April 10, 2016.
The new revised arrangement includes:
- the rising of numerical limitation up to 100 international applications during the relevant fiscal quarter, instead of 75;
- as well as lifting of the bar on scope of classifications: the condition that the ILPO would not act as an ISA for applications with one or more claims directed to the field of business methods as defined by specified areas of the IPC has been removed.
Please be advised, that under this revised arrangement, the ILPO may act as an ISA under the PCT for international applications filed with the RO/US provided that:
(i) The applications are submitted in the English language;
(ii) ILPO has not received more than 100 international applications from USPTO during the current fiscal quarter; and
(iii) The ILPO is designated as a competent searching authority by the applicants of said applications.
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as ISA/IPEA
Effective April 1, 2016, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) may act as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for international applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Receiving Office (RO/US).
The following restrictions apply: (1) the international applications are submitted in the English language; and (2) the IPOS is chosen as a competent authority by the applicants of said applications. The IPOS will also act as an IPEA only where the IPOS had acted as the ISA.
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) as ISA/IPEA
Effective July 1, 2015, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) may act as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for international applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Receiving Office (RO/US).
The following restrictions apply: (1) the applications are submitted in the English language; (2) the claims of the application are directed to the field of green technology as defined by certain International Patent Classification classes; (3) the JPO has not received more than 5,000 international applications from the USPTO during the 3 year period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018, and not more than 300 applications per quarter during the first year, and not more than 475 application per quarter during the second and third years; and (4) the JPO is chosen as a competent authority by the applicants of said applications. The JPO will also act as an IPEA if these four requirements are met, and the JPO acted as the ISA.
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) between USPTO and and various Intellectual Property Offices
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program has been expanded on a test basis to permit PPH eligibility for national- and regional-phase applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on the basis of positive results in the PCT international phase. Under the PCT-PPH program, an applicant receiving a written opinion or an international preliminary examination report from one of the participating Offices that at least one claim in a PCT application has novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. The PCT-PPH will leverage fast-track patent examination procedures already available in both offices to allow applicants in both countries to obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently. As of May 25, 2010, the USPTO has eliminated the fee for the petition to make special under the PPH programs.
For a complete listing of the participating Offices, please visit: http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp.
