PCT - general practice, newsletters, PCT.App updates

We have completed our major update of PCT.App for recent legal changes. Most of the changes relate to handling of languages by the RO, and the new additional reasons for forwarding to the IB under Rule 19.4 and Rule 26.3ter. The most relevant PCT updates are found at PCT Highlights.

In the self-editable online version, all changes are rolled-out automatically, retaining your personal user annotations from before the update, and allowing export to your own customized printable PDF. The same contents are also published as standalone softcover books in English or German.

A big advantage of our online references is that they are automatically updated without disturbing your own notes. Any errors can be corrected immediately, and legal changes can be incorporated regularly.

This year, there have been no major legal updates in PCT, and very few significant updates in the guidelines and applicants guides.

We have just completed our major update of PCT.App for the legal changes in July & August. Most of the changes relate to sequence listings, which is now much more integrated into PCT. We have also changed some core structures to improve the layout and to distribute legal provisions in a more logical way.

In the self-editable online version of our PCT commentary, all changes of the update are rolled-out automatically, while personal user annotations from before the update are retained, and can be exported into a customized printable PDF offline version. As usual, we further released this September 2022 edition as standalone softcover books in English or German with same content.

This is a monthly snapshot of the most important PCT-related changes – we include a full list of future changes, together with selected recent changes that are important for daily practice. The changes of 1 Jul 22 will be included in the Sept. 2022 edition of PCT.App.

Some treaty accessions were announced and e-PCT now provides additional recovery options in case of disruption. The biggest future change is still the “big bang” change to the ST.26 standard for sequence listings.

As part of our updating process, we regular monitor the WIPO and EPO websites. See below for the most important PCT-related changes that we are currently aware of. The changes of 1 Jul 22 will be included in the Sept. 2022 edition of PCT.App.

The main themes in 2022 are the “big bang” change to the ST.26 standard for sequence listings, the adoption of more electronic communication, and improved safeguards for online systems.