What is the effect of withdrawing a demand or election on the international application?
The effect of withdrawing a demand or election on an international application is explained in MPEP 1880, which cites PCT Article 37(4). The general rule is:
Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (b), withdrawal of the demand or of the election of a Contracting State shall, unless the national law of that State provides otherwise, be considered to be withdrawal of the international application as far as that State is concerned.
However, there’s an important exception:
Withdrawal of the demand or of the election shall not be considered to be withdrawal of the international application if such withdrawal is effected prior to the expiration of the applicable time limit under Article 22.
This means that if the withdrawal is done early enough, it doesn’t necessarily result in the withdrawal of the entire international application for that state.
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