Table of Contents I INTERNATIONAL PHASE BEFORE THE RECEIVING OFFICE AND INTERNATIONAL BUREAU.. 14 I.1. Who can file a PCT application?... 19 I.1.1. US law and the applicant (declaration of inventorship)... 20 I.1.2. Representation requirements before RO... 21 I.2. Where and how to file (which RO, which technical means)... 21 I.2.1. The competent Receiving Office... 21 I.2.2. The application is filed at a non-competent Receiving Office... 22 I.2.3. National security checks by the Receiving Office... 24 I.2.4. Technical means for filing an International application... 25 I.3. Languages of the PCT application... 26 I.3.1. Language of the application... 26 I.3.2. Translations of the application (when filed in a language not accepted by the ISA)... 27 I.3.2.1. Receiving Office invitation to file the translation... 28 I.3.2.2. Failure to provide translation, deemed withdrawal... 28 I.3.3. Translations of the application (when filed in a non-publication language accepted for search by ISA)... 29 I.3.3.1. Receiving Office invitation to file the translation... 30 I.3.3.2. Failure to provide translation, deemed withdrawal... 30 I.3.4. Applications filed at the Dutch or Belgian office where the EPO is ISA... 31 I.3.5. Language of abstract and drawings... 31 I.3.6. Applications filed in a language not accepted by the Receiving Office... 32 I.3.7. Language of applications filed at SE, ES or AT Office as RO and ISA... 33 I.3.8. Language of the Request... 34 I.4. Designation of states... 35 I.4.1. Designation fees... 36 I.4.2. Duplicated protection (designating the state from which priority was claimed)... 36 I.4.3. Excluded designation of state of priority... 37 I.4.4. Extension/validation of EP patents to/in non-epc states via the PCT... 37 I.4.4.1. Extension agreements... 37 I.4.4.2. Validation agreements... 38 I.4.5. Closure of the national route - obligatory regional designation... 39 I.4.6. Withdrawal of designations... 39 I.5. Fees due on filing... 41 I.5.1. The transmittal fee... 41 I.5.2. The International filing fee... 43 I.5.3. The search fee and the Receiving Office... 46 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 1
I.6. The filing date... 48 I.6.1. Minimum requirements for establishing a filing date... 48 I.6.2. The application is not entitled to a filing date... 50 I.6.2.1. Invitation to correct and time limit therefor... 50 I.6.2.2. Correction of deficiencies by the applicant of his own volition... 52 I.6.2.3. Later finding of invalid filing date... 53 I.7. Late filing / incorporation by reference to priority of elements or parts of application... 54 I.7.1. Late filing / incorporation of description or claims as a whole... 54 I.7.1.1. Procedure for late filing of whole elements... 54 I.7.1.2. Procedure for incorporation of whole elements... 55 I.7.1.3. Outcome of incorporation: Yes/No... 58 I.7.1.4. Language of late filed description and claims... 59 I.7.2. Late filing / incorporation of missing parts or missing drawings... 60 I.7.2.1. Procedure for late filing of parts or drawing... 60 I.7.2.2. Procedure for incorporation of parts or drawings... 62 I.7.2.3. Outcome of incorporation: Yes/No... 64 I.7.2.4. Language of late filed parts of the description and claims... 67 I.7.3. Incompatibilities with certain offices... 67 I.7.3.1. Incompatibilities with Receiving Office law... 67 I.7.3.2. Incompatibilities with Designated or Elected Office law... 68 I.7.4. Review by, and additional requirements of designated or elected offices... 69 I.7.5. Correction of missing documents or parts thereof under R91 PCT... 69 I.8. Priority right under the PCT... 69 I.8.1. Priority claim... 69 I.8.2. Supplying the priority document... 73 I.8.3. Time limits calculated from the priority... 76 I.8.4. Withdrawal of priority claim... 76 I.8.5. Correction or addition of a priority claim... 78 I.8.6. Correction of the priority according to R91.1 PCT... 82 I.8.7. Restoration of the priority period... 84 I.8.7.1. Procedure for requesting restoration to the Receiving Office and decision thereon... 85 I.8.7.2. Information on restoration of priority in published application... 89 I.8.7.3. Restoration of priority - effect and possible review in national or regional phase... 89 I.8.7.4. Reservations... 90 I.9. Examination of formal requirements before the Receiving Office... 91 I.9.1. Contents of the application... 91 I.9.2. Formality checks by the Receiving Office under Art.14(1)(a) PCT... 92 I.9.2.1. Presence of the signature... 92 I.9.2.2. Proper identification of the applicant... 93 I.9.2.3. Requirement of a title... 95 2 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese
I.9.2.4. Requirement of an abstract... 95 I.9.2.5. Physical requirements of an International application... 96 I.9.3. Correction of defects detected by the Receiving Office according to Art.14(1)(a) PCT... 96 I.9.4. Missing drawings... 98 I.9.5. National requirements relating to drawings... 98 I.9.6. Use of the standardised request form... 98 I.10. Biological sequence listings and the Receiving Office... 99 II THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCH, PROCEDURES BEFORE THE ISA AND PUBLICATION... 101 II.1. International search and the state of the art... 103 II.2. The competent International searching authority (ISA)... 104 II.2.1. Cases where more than one ISA is competent... 104 II.2.2. The EPO as ISA... 105 II.2.3. National offices of EPC states as ISAs... 106 II.2.3.1. Sweden as ISA... 106 II.2.3.2. Spain as ISA... 107 II.2.3.3. Austria as ISA... 107 II.2.3.4. Finland as ISA... 107 II.2.3.5. The Nordic Patent Institute as ISA... 107 II.3. International type search... 107 II.4. The search fee... 108 II.5. Refund of International search fee by EPO as ISA... 108 II.5.1. Refund of search fee where earlier search report exists on an earlier application... 108 II.5.2. Refund of International search fee for formal reasons... 113 II.6. Time limit for completing the International search... 114 II.7. Application not searched... 114 II.7.1. Application not searched due to the presence of certain subject matter... 115 II.7.1.1. Theories... 116 II.7.1.2. Plant, animal varieties... 116 II.7.1.3. Business methods etc... 116 II.7.1.4. Methods of treatment / diagnosis... 116 II.7.1.5. Presentations of information... 117 II.7.1.6. Computer programmes... 117 II.7.2. Application not searched due to serious deficiencies... 117 II.8. Non-unity in International search... 119 II.8.1. Substantive issues... 119 II.8.2. Formal issues... 120 II.8.2.1. The invitation to pay under Art.17(3)(a) PCT and payment of additional fees... 120 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 3
II.8.2.2. The time limit for paying additional search fees according to Art.17(3)(a) PCT... 121 II.8.2.3. The content of the invitation under Art.17(3)(a) PCT... 122 II.8.2.3.1. The content of the invitation under Art.17(3)(a) PCT - general considerations... 122 II.8.2.3.2. The content of the invitation under Art.17(3)(a) PCT - in cases of a posteriori lack of unity.. 123 II.8.2.4. Subsequent invitations to pay additional search fees (cascade a posteriori lack of unity)... 125 II.8.3. The protest procedure... 125 II.8.3.1. Content & language of the protest... 126 II.8.3.2. The protest fee... 127 II.8.3.3. Examination of protest by review body [EPO review panel]... 128 II.8.3.4. Decision on the request for refund of additional search fees... 128 II.9. The search report... 129 II.10. Written opinion of the ISA (WO-ISA, or Extended International Search Report - EISR)... 132 II.10.1. Basis for the WO-ISA... 132 II.10.1.1. Amendments and corrections... 132 II.10.1.2. PCT-Direct [reply to EPO opinion given on priority]... 133 II.10.2. When no WO-ISA is required... 134 II.10.3. Novelty, Inventive Step and Industrial Application in the WO-ISA... 135 II.10.4. Prior art for the WO-ISA... 136 II.10.5. Limitation of examination in the WO-ISA... 138 II.10.6. Language of the WO-ISA... 139 II.10.7. Priority and the WO-ISA... 139 II.10.8. Form of the WO-ISA... 141 II.10.9. Formal defects, clarity, support, disclosure... 141 II.10.10. Applicant's reply to the WO-ISA... 142 II.10.11. Availability of the WO-ISA, report based thereon and translations thereof... 143 II.10.11.1. Application filed on/after 01.07.2014... 143 II.10.11.2. Application filed before 01.07.2014... 143 II.10.12. Translation of the WO-ISA... 145 II.10.12.1. Translation of the WO-ISA for one or more designated offices... 145 II.10.12.2. Translation of the WO-ISA for one or more elected offices... 145 II.10.13. Report based on the WO-ISA [IPRP Chapter I]... 146 II.10.14. Translation of the report based on the WO-ISA... 147 II.10.15. Unity and the WO-ISA... 147 II.10.16. Late filed parts/elements and the WO-ISA... 148 II.11. Amendment under Art.19 PCT... 149 II.11.1. Time limit for Art.19 PCT amendments... 150 II.11.2. Formalities of Art.19 PCT amendments... 150 II.11.3. The "Brief Statement" according to Art.19(1) PCT... 152 II.11.4. Publication of Art.19 PCT amendments... 152 II.12. International publication... 153 4 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese
II.12.1. General... 153 II.12.2. Early publication... 155 II.12.3. Languages of publication... 156 II.12.4. Avoiding publication... 158 II.12.5. Subject matter omitted from International publication... 158 II.12.6. Confidentiality of the application before publication... 159 II.12.7. Reservations preventing publication... 160 II.12.8. Rights conferred by International publication... 160 II.12.8.1. Steps necessary at the EPO... 161 II.12.8.2. Steps necessary at the states designated under the EPC... 162 II.12.8.3. Amendment of claims before publication... 162 II.13. Requirements relating to biological inventions... 163 II.13.1. Biological sequence listings and International search... 163 II.13.2. Deposition of biological material... 167 II.13.2.1. Where to deposit... 167 II.13.2.2. Requirements specified by the PCT... 168 II.13.2.3. Requirements specified by national or regional law... 169 II.13.2.4. Office and time limit for filing information on deposited biological material... 170 II.13.2.5. Loss of rights with regard to deposited biological material... 172 II.13.2.6. Reestablishment of rights at EPO for filing information on deposited biological material... 173 II.13.2.7. Deposits of biological material and the priority right before the EPO... 173 II.14. Procedure at the ISA where the abstract and/or title is missing or the title is deficient... 174 II.15. Supplementary International Searches (SIS)... 174 II.15.1. Supplementary search request: time limit, contents and accompanying documents... 175 II.15.2. Supplementary search request: defects and their correction... 178 II.15.3. Competent SISA... 180 II.15.4. SIS-related fees... 182 II.15.4.1. SIS-Handling fee... 182 II.15.4.2. Supplementary search fee... 183 II.15.5. Documents and translations forming basis for the SIS-search... 184 II.15.6. Transfer of documents from IB to SISA... 185 II.15.7. Start and time limit for completion of the SIS-search... 186 II.15.8. Limitation of the SIS-Search... 187 II.15.9. Unity and the SIS... 189 II.15.10. The SIS-Search Report [contents and language thereof]... 193 II.15.11. Transmittal of SIS-search report to applicant, IB and designated offices... 195 II.15.12. Withdrawal of the SIS-request... 196 III PCT CHAPTER II, INTERNATIONAL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION... 198 III.1. Who can demand International preliminary examination?... 200 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 5
III.2. The competent IPEA... 201 III.2.1. When does the EPO act as IPEA?... 203 III.2.2. The EPO as IPEA for non EPC Receiving Offices... 203 III.2.3. Where the EPO is the IPEA but was not the ISA... 204 III.2.4. Other EPC contracting states as IPEAs... 204 III.3. The Demand for preliminary examination... 204 III.3.1. Where & how to file the Demand... 204 III.3.2. The applicant files the Demand at the wrong office - procedure... 205 III.3.2.1. Demand erroneously filed at the International Bureau... 205 III.3.2.2. Demand filed at non-competent office... 205 III.3.3. When to File the Demand... 207 III.3.4. Language of the Demand... 208 III.3.5. Content of the demand... 209 III.3.5.1. Content of the Demand - The petition... 209 III.3.5.2. Content of the Demand - identify the applicant... 209 III.3.5.3. Content of the Demand - identify the agent or common representative... 211 III.3.5.4. Content of the Demand - indicate the International application... 211 III.3.5.5. Content of the Demand - the election of states... 212 III.3.5.6. Content of the Demand - statement concerning amendments... 212 III.3.5.7. Content of the Demand - signature of the Demand... 213 III.3.6. Defects in the Demand... 213 III.4. Election of states... 215 III.5. Withdrawal of the Demand or of an election... 216 III.6. Language of the application in preliminary examination... 217 III.6.1. Language of the application itself... 217 III.6.2. Language of amendments in preliminary examination... 219 III.6.2.1. Language, in preliminary examination, of amendments filed under Art.19 PCT & Art.34 PCT... 220 III.6.2.2. Language of letter accompanying amendments under Art.19 PCT and Art.34 PCT... 221 III.6.3. Corrections of form and/or content of translations of the application in Preliminary Examination... 222 III.7. Fees due when entering Chapter II... 222 III.7.1. Handling fee... 223 III.7.1.1. Handling fee - general... 223 III.7.1.2. Handling fee - refunds... 224 III.7.2. Preliminary examination fee... 225 III.7.3. Late or no payment of handling and preliminary examination fees... 226 III.8. Substantive issues of preliminary examination... 227 III.8.1. Opinions of the IPEA on substantive issues... 227 III.8.2. Prior art for preliminary examination... 228 III.9. Basis of preliminary examination and filing of amendments... 231 6 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese
III.9.1. Based on the application as originally filed and corrections thereof... 232 III.9.2. Based on amendments under Art.19(1) PCT... 233 III.9.3. Based on the application as amended under Art.34 PCT... 235 III.10. Procedure before the IPEA in preliminary examination... 237 III.10.1. General... 237 III.10.2. The start of International preliminary examination... 238 III.10.3. First written opinion... 240 III.10.3.1. WO-ISA is considered to be the first written opinion of the IPEA... 241 III.10.3.2. WO-ISA is not considered to be the first written opinion of the IPEA... 242 III.10.3.3. Translation of the WO-ISA requested by the IPEA... 243 III.10.3.4. The content of the written opinion... 244 III.10.4. Reply to written opinion... 246 III.10.5. Subsequent written opinions... 247 III.10.6. Informal communications (telephone, interview)... 250 III.10.7. The International preliminary examination report... 251 III.10.7.1. Statement on novelty, inventive step and industrial application... 251 III.10.7.2. Prior art cited in the International preliminary examination report... 252 III.10.7.3. Mention formal defects, clarity, support... 254 III.10.7.4. Limitation of examination on the report... 254 III.10.7.5. Unity and the report... 255 III.10.7.6. Late filed missing parts/elements and the report... 256 III.10.7.7. Basis of the report... 257 III.10.7.8. Language of the report... 258 III.10.7.9. Indication that the priority is deemed not to be valid... 258 III.10.7.10. Formal content of the report... 258 III.10.7.11. Annexes to report... 259 III.10.7.12. Time limit for preparation of the International preliminary examination report... 260 III.10.7.13. Translation of the International preliminary examination report... 261 III.10.7.14. Translation of annexes to the International preliminary examination report... 261 III.10.7.15. Transmittal of International preliminary examination report to applicant, IB and elected offices... 262 III.10.8. Biological sequence listings in preliminary examination... 262 III.10.9. Top-up search in preliminary examination... 264 III.11. Priority in preliminary examination... 266 III.12. Unity in preliminary examination... 268 III.12.1. Substantive issues... 268 III.12.2. Formal issues... 268 III.12.2.1. Invitation to restrict the claims or pay additional examination fees under Art.34(3)(a) PCT... 268 III.12.2.2. The time limit for paying additional fees or restricting the claims... 270 III.12.2.3. The content of the invitation according to Art.34(3)(a) PCT... 270 III.12.2.3.1. The content of the invitation according to Art.34(3)(a) PCT - general considerations... 270 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 7
III.12.2.3.2. The content of the invitation according to Art.34(3)(a) PCT - a posteriori lack of unity... 271 III.12.3. The protest procedure... 271 III.12.3.1. Content and language of the protest... 272 III.12.3.2. The protest fee... 272 III.12.3.3. Examination of protest by review body [EPO review panel]... 272 III.12.3.4. Decision on the request for refund of additional examination fees... 273 III.12.4. Non-unity cases passing from the ISA to the IPEA... 274 III.13. Application not examined... 275 III.13.1. Application not examined due to the presence of certain subject matter... 275 III.13.2. Application not examined due to serious deficiencies... 276 III.14. Confidentiality of International preliminary examination... 277 IV ENTRY INTO THE REGIONAL PHASE BEFORE THE EPO (ART.22 PCT AND ART.39 PCT) 280 IV.1. Time limit for entry into the European phase... 281 IV.1.1. Normal time limit for entry, and possible extensions thereof... 281 IV.1.2. Early processing in the national or regional phase... 281 IV.1.2.1. The request for early processing... 281 IV.1.2.2. Items always required for early processing... 282 IV.1.2.3. Items sometimes required for early processing... 282 IV.1.2.4. Items never required for early processing... 284 IV.1.2.5. Effects of early processing... 284 IV.1.2.6. Accelerated processing [PACE] and early processing... 285 IV.1.2.7. Request for restoration of priority and early processing... 286 IV.1.3. Accelerated prosecution in the European phase [PACE]... 286 IV.1.3.1. PACE request... 286 IV.1.3.2. PACE in supplementary search... 287 IV.1.3.3. PACE in examination... 287 IV.1.3.3.1. Start of examination no supplementary search... 289 IV.1.3.3.2. Start of examination supplementary search without waiver... 289 IV.1.3.3.3. Start of examination supplementary search with waiver... 290 IV.1.3.4. Termination of PACE... 290 IV.1.3.5. Suspension of PACE [non-payment of renewal fee]... 290 IV.2. Acts to be performed to enter the European phase, general remarks... 291 IV.3. Representation before the EPO... 292 IV.4. Furnish a copy of the application... 296 IV.4.1. Communication of the application by the IB to the designated offices... 296 IV.4.2. Communication of the amendments to the designated offices... 297 IV.5. Documents on which the European granting procedure is to be based... 298 IV.5.1. Specifying documents on which the procedure is to be based, when entering European phase... 298 8 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese
IV.5.2. EPO invitation to file amendments after entry in the European phase R161 EPC... 300 IV.6. Reply to WO-ISA/IPER/SIS-search report after entry into EP phase... 302 IV.6.1. R161(1) EPC communication [EPO was ISA or SISA]... 302 IV.6.1.1. Mandatory reply and exceptions thereto, where EPO was ISA & no Chapter II... 304 IV.6.1.2. Mandatory reply and exceptions thereto, where EPO was IPEA and ISA... 305 IV.6.1.3. Mandatory reply and exceptions thereto, where EPO was ISA and IPEA was another office... 305 IV.6.1.4. Mandatory reply and exceptions thereto, where EPO was SISA... 306 IV.6.1.5. Voluntary reply - EPO was IPEA but not ISA... 307 IV.6.1.6. Voluntary reply - Positive WO-ISA/IPER/SIS-search report... 307 IV.6.1.7. Waiving the communication under R161(1) EPC... 307 IV.6.2. R161(2) EPC communication [EPO was not ISA or SISA] and voluntary reply thereto... 308 IV.7. Furnish a translation of the application... 310 IV.7.1. Translation required by EPO; which language and procedural language... 310 IV.7.2. Which parts of the application must be translated... 312 IV.7.2.1. Translation of the application as filed... 312 IV.7.2.2. Translation of Art.19(1) PCT amendments, brief statement and accompanying letter and ISA-unity protest 312 IV.7.2.3. Translation of annexes to the IPER... 313 IV.7.2.4. Translation of the request/drawings... 315 IV.7.2.5. Translations of sequence listings... 315 IV.7.2.6. Translations of references to biological material... 316 IV.7.2.7. Translation of requests for correction made in PCT... 316 IV.7.3. Failure to supply the translation of the application or of amendments... 317 IV.7.4. Correction of translation... 319 IV.7.5. Republication of the international application in an EPO official language... 320 IV.8. Fees payable on entering the European regional phase... 320 IV.8.1. Fees - general remarks... 320 IV.8.2. The EPO filing fee... 322 IV.8.3. European designation fee... 326 IV.8.4. Fees for extension and validation states... 327 IV.8.4.1. Fees for extension states... 327 IV.8.4.2. Fees for validation states... 329 IV.8.5. The claims fee... 331 IV.8.6. Fee for the supplementary European search... 334 IV.8.7. The examination fee... 334 IV.8.8. The renewal fee... 334 IV.8.8.1. Due date under R51(1) EPC... 335 IV.8.8.2. Thirty-one month period under R159(1) EPC... 336 IV.8.8.3. Late payment plus surcharge... 336 IV.8.8.4. Failure to pay a renewal fee - loss and re-establishment of rights... 338 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 9
IV.9. The supplementary search... 339 IV.9.1. Supplementary search report and search opinion... 340 IV.9.1.1. The supplementary search report... 340 IV.9.1.2. The Search Opinion [ESOP] & mandatory response thereto... 341 IV.9.2. Supplementary search fee and time limit... 345 IV.9.3. Failure to pay the supplementary search fee: sanctions / legal remedies... 346 IV.9.4. Supplementary search fee - refunds and reductions... 346 IV.9.5. Partial supplementary search reports... 349 IV.9.5.1. Partial report due to multiple independent claims in the same category... 349 IV.9.5.2. Partial report due to serious non-compliance with the EPC requirements... 351 IV.10. The request for examination... 354 IV.10.1. The written request and the fee... 354 IV.10.2. Time limit for filing the request for examination... 355 IV.10.3. Confirmation of the request for examination where a supplementary search report is prepared... 356 IV.10.4. The waiver case where a supplementary search report is prepared... 357 IV.10.5. Failure to request examination or to confirm it in time / Legal remedies... 358 IV.10.6. Refund of the examination fee... 359 IV.10.6.1. Full refund of examination fee... 359 IV.10.6.2. Partial refund of examination fee (75%)... 360 IV.10.7. Reductions in examination fee... 361 IV.10.7.1. Reduction when EPO drew up an IPER... 361 IV.10.7.2. Reduction for language privilege... 362 IV.10.7.3. "Double reduction": language privilege & EPO drew up IPER... 365 IV.11. Formal requirements entering in the EPO regional phase... 365 IV.11.1. Non-prejudicial disclosures... 365 IV.11.1.1. Disclosure at certain exhibitions... 365 IV.11.1.2. Disclosures resulting from an abuse... 367 IV.11.1.3. Disclosure by the applicant... 368 IV.11.2. Subsequent identification of the inventor... 368 IV.11.3. Missing signature/particulars of the applicant... 370 IV.11.4. Priority claim when entering the regional phase before the EPO... 371 IV.11.4.1. Copy of the priority document... 371 IV.11.4.1.1. Priority document already rendered available in the International phase... 372 IV.11.4.1.2. Priority document not rendered available in the International phase... 373 IV.11.4.1.3. Priority document available to EPO... 374 IV.11.4.2. EPO invitation to supply the priority file number... 375 IV.11.5. Translation of the priority document... 376 IV.11.6. Failure to meet 12 month priority period / legal remedies... 379 IV.11.6.1. Review by EPO of positive decision on restoration of priority made by RO... 380 IV.11.6.2. Review by EPO of negative decision on restoration of priority made by RO... 381 IV.11.6.3. Restoration requested in regional phase before EPO... 381 10 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese
IV.11.7. Priority claim: corrections in the regional phase before EPO... 382 IV.11.7.1. Applicant s request to correct a priority in the regional phase before EPO... 382 IV.11.7.2. EPO rectification of errors w.r.t priority claims made by RO/ IB... 383 IV.11.8. Information on prior art... 384 IV.11.8.1. Provision of search results on claimed priority... 384 IV.11.8.2. Discretionary invitation to provide information on prior art in examination... 386 IV.12. Lack of unity passing into the regional phase before EPO... 387 IV.12.1. Non-Unity: procedure where EPO carries out a supplementary search... 388 IV.12.2. Non-Unity: procedure where no supplementary search is carried out... 392 IV.12.2.1. No non-unity raised by EPO as ISA/SISA... 393 IV.12.2.2. Invitation to pay additional search fee(s) for inventions not searched by EPO as ISA/SISA... 393 IV.12.2.3. Communication of results of the search... 395 IV.12.2.4. Limiting the claims to a searched invention... 396 IV.12.2.5. Review of unity in examination and fee refunds... 397 IV.12.2.6. Admissibility of amendments in relation to cases under R164(2) EPC... 398 IV.13. Filing Divisional applications... 399 IV.14. Biological sequence listings - passage into the European phase... 401 IV.15. Reinstatement of rights lost in the International phase... 404 IV.15.1. Reinstatement of rights under Art.25 PCT & under Art.24(2) PCT... 405 IV.15.2. Reinstatement under Art.48(2) PCT... 407 IV.15.3. Remedy applicable cf Art.48(2) PCT to rights lost in International phase - Art.121 EPC/Art.122 EPC.. 409 IV.15.3.1. Failure to correct certain defects... 410 IV.15.3.2. Failure to pay prescribed fees... 410 IV.15.3.3. Later finding of non-compliance with filing date requirements... 411 IV.15.3.4. Failure to supply translation... 411 IV.15.4. Correction of errors of International authorities concerning filing date or priority claim... 412 IV.15.4.1. Incorrect filing date / priority claim... 412 IV.15.4.2. Review of findings concerning filing by reference... 413 IV.16. Re-instating rights lost for failure to meet a time limit on entry into the European phase... 416 IV.16.1. Reinstatement under R49.6 PCT: procedure and applicability... 417 IV.16.2. Applicability of further processing under Art.121 EPC... 418 IV.16.3. Applicability of re-establishment under Art.122 EPC... 419 IV.17. Procedure for requesting Further Processing (Art 121 EPC) and Re-establishment (Art.122 EPC).. 419 IV.17.1. Further Processing - Art.121 EPC... 420 IV.17.1.1. Further processing: request / period... 420 IV.17.1.2. Exclusions from further processing... 422 IV.17.2. Re-establishment of rights [formerly Restitutio in integrum]... 423 IV.17.2.1. The request for re-establishment [grounds, facts, fee, omitted act]... 423 IV.17.2.2. All due care... 424 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 11
IV.17.2.3. Time limit for requesting re-establishment... 424 IV.17.2.4. Removal of cause of non compliance... 425 IV.17.2.5. The one year maximum period for requesting re-establishment... 426 IV.17.3. Time limits to which re-establishment applies and exclusions... 426 IV.17.4. Consequence of granting the request... 427 IV.17.5. Re-establishment and protection of third parties... 427 IV.17.6. Application of re-establishment by contracting states... 427 IV.18. Type of protection and entry into the Regional / National phase... 427 IV.18.1. Types of protection under the PCT... 428 IV.18.2. Effect of the Request form... 428 IV.18.3. Requesting certain kinds of protection... 428 IV.18.4. Request to identify the parent application... 429 V COMMON PROVISIONS... 430 V.1. Time limits under the PCT... 431 V.1.1. Computation of time limits... 431 V.1.2. End of the working day... 432 V.1.3. Extension of time limits... 432 V.1.3.1. Holidays at PCT authorities... 432 V.1.3.2. Postal delays - late posting or late arrival of a document/notification at the applicant... 433 V.1.3.3. Late arrival of applicant's submissions at PCT authority... 433 V.1.3.3.1. Posted five days before time limit expiry... 433 V.1.3.3.2. War, revolution, natural disaster etc... 435 V.2. Representation... 437 V.2.1. Mandatory representation before the Receiving Office... 437 V.2.2. Agents qualified to act in the International phase... 438 V.2.2.1. Agents qualified before Receiving Offices (& throughout International phase)... 438 V.2.2.2. Agents competent to act only before the ISA, SISA or IPEA... 439 V.2.2.3. Sub-agents appointed by the agent... 440 V.2.3. The common representative... 441 V.2.4. How to appoint an agent, a common agent or a common representative... 443 V.2.4.1. Separate power of attorney... 444 V.2.4.2. General power of attorney... 445 V.2.4.3. Power of attorney waiver... 446 V.2.5. Revocation and renunciation of appointment of an agent or common representative... 447 V.2.6. Effect of acts by or in relation to an agent or a common representative... 449 V.2.7. Request or demand signed by incorrectly appointed agent... 451 V.2.8. Representation requirements before the EPO in the regional phase... 453 V.2.8.1. Persons qualified to undertake professional representation before EPO... 453 V.2.8.2. Appointment of a representative in the regional phase before EPO... 454 12 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese
V.2.8.3. Failure to appoint a representative in the European phase... 455 V.3. Form and languages of documents and letters filed by the applicant... 455 V.4. Technical means for filing documents... 457 V.4.1. Fax, teleprinter, telegraph... 457 V.4.2. Electronic filing... 459 V.5. Registering changes of details of applicant... 461 V.5.1. Assignment of the application to a new applicant... 461 V.5.2. Death of applicant or inventor... 463 V.6. Withdrawal of the International application... 463 V.7. Withdrawal of other rights: designations, priority, SIS-request, Demand and elections... 464 V.8. Correction of obvious mistakes... 464 V.9. Third party observations... 470 2015 - Peter Watchorn & Andrea Veronese 13