What is the effect of appointing a new agent or common representative in a PCT application?

Appointing a new agent or common representative in a PCT application generally has the following effects:

• Appointing a new agent automatically revokes any earlier appointment of an agent, unless otherwise indicated.
• Appointing a new common representative automatically revokes any earlier appointment of a common representative, unless otherwise indicated.

This is specified in MPEP 1808, which states:

“The appointment of an agent for the international phase in general automatically has the effect, unless otherwise indicated, of revoking any earlier appointment of an agent. The appointment of a common representative similarly has the effect, unless otherwise indicated, of revoking any earlier appointment of a common representative.”

It’s important to clearly indicate if you intend to maintain multiple agents or representatives when making new appointments.

To learn more:

• PCT
• agent appointment
• common representative
• international application