United States Patent and Trademark Office OG Notices: 12 December 2006
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Information
For information concerning PCT member countries, see the notice
appearing in the Official Gazette at 1311 O.G. 44, on October 10, 2006.
European Patent Office as Searching and Examining Authority
The European Patent Office (EPO) may act as the International Searching
Authority (ISA) for an international application filed with the United
States Receiving Office or the International Bureau (IB) as Receiving
Office where at least one of the applicants is either a national or
resident of the United States of America. However, the EPO is no longer
a competent ISA, within the meaning of PCT Article 16(3), for
international applications filed by U.S. residents or nationals on or
after 01 March 2002 in the USPTO or IB as a Receiving Office, and where
the application contains one or more claims directed to the field of
business methods. For the definition of what the EPO considers to be
precluded subject matter in the field of business methods, applicants
should see the "Notice from the President of the European Patent
Office," dated 26 November 2001, and which was published as Annex A in
the "Notice Concerning EPO Competence to Act as PCT Authority" in
the Official Gazette at 1255 O.G. 878, on February 19, 2002.
The European Patent Office may act as the International
Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for an international application
filed in the United States Receiving Office or the International Bureau
as Receiving Office where at least one of the applicants is either a
national or resident of the United States of America, provided that the
European Patent Office acted as the International Searching Authority.
However, the EPO is no longer a competent IPEA, within the meaning of
PCT Article 32(3), for international applications filed by U.S.
residents or nationals in the USPTO or IB as a Receiving Office where
the corresponding demand is filed with the EPO on or after 01 March
2002, and where the application contains one or more claims directed to
the fields of business methods.
The EPO resumed its competence as an International Searching
Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority, effective
January 1, 2004, for international applications filed by nationals or
residents of the United States of America where the application
contains one or more claims relating to the field of biotechnology.
This change was announced in the Official Gazette at 1277 O.G. 230, on
December 30, 2003.
The EPO resumed its competence as an International Preliminary
Examining Authority, effective July 1, 2004, for demands filed by U.S.
residents or nationals on or after July 1, 2004, for international
applications filed by nationals or residents of the United States of
America where the application contains one or more claims relating to
the field of telecommunications. This change was announced in the
Official Gazette at 1277 O.G. 230, on December 30, 2003.
The search fee of the European Patent Office was increased,
effective September 15, 2006, and was announced in the Official Gazette
at 1309 O.G. 102, on August 15, 2006.
Korean Intellectual Property Office as Searching and Examining Authority
For use of the Korean Intellectual Property Office as an International
Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority for
international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office,
see the notice appearing in the Official Gazette at 1302 O.G. 1261 on
January 17, 2006.
The search fee of the Korean Intellectual Property Office was increased,
effective May 15, 2006, and was announced in the Official Gazette at 1306
O.G. 90, on May 16, 2006.
Fees
International filing fees were changed, effective on October 14, 2006,
to allow for a discount for electronic filing of international applications
using EFS-Web and PCT EASY software. This change was announced in the
Official Gazette at 1312 O.G. 40, on November 14, 2006.
The schedule of PCT fees (in U.S. dollars), as of October 14, 2006,
is as follows:
International Application (PCT Chapter I) fees:
Transmittal fee: $300.00
Search Fee
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as
International Searching Authority (ISA)
- Corresponding prior U.S. national
application has been filed under 35 U.S.C.
111(a),
(i) prior to December 8, 2004, the basic filing
fee under 37 CFR 1.16(a) has been paid, or
(ii) on or after December 8, 2004, the basic
filing fee under 37 CFR 1.16(a), the search
fee under 37 CFR 1.16(k) and the examination
fee under 37 CFR 1.16(o) have been paid and
the prior U.S. national application is
identified by the application number if known,
or if the application number is not known, by
the filing date, title and name of applicant
(and preferably by the application docket
number), in the international application or
accompanying the papers at the time of filing
of the international application $300.00
- All other situations (including situation wherein no
prior corresponding US national application has been
filed under 35 USC 111(a)) $1,000.00
- Supplemental search fee, per additional
invention (payable only upon invitation) $1,000.00
European Patent Office as ISA $2,059.00
Korean Intellectual Property Office as ISA $232.00
International fees
International filing fee $1,086.00
International filing fee-filed in paper
with PCT EASY zip file or
electronically without PCT EASY
zip file $ 1,008.00
International filing fee-filed
electronically with PCT EASY zip
file $931.00
Supplemental fee for each page over 30 $12.00
International Application (PCT Chapter II) fees associated
with filing a Demand for Preliminary Examination:
Handling fee $155.00
Preliminary examination fee
USPTO as International Preliminary
Examining Authority (IPEA)
- USPTO was ISA in PCT Chapter I $600.00
- USPTO was not ISA in PCT Chapter I $750.00
- Additional preliminary examination fee,
per additional invention
(payable only upon invitation) $600.00
U.S. National Stage fees (for international applications entering the
U.S. national phase under 35 U.S.C. 371) can be found on the USPTO's
web site (www.uspto.gov).
October 17, 2006 JON W. DUDAS
Under Secretary of Commerce for
Intellectual Property and Director of the
United States Patent and Trademark Office