What information is included in a published international application?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

A published international application, also known as the PCT pamphlet, contains comprehensive information about the invention and its prosecution. According to MPEP 1857, the pamphlet includes:

• The standardized front page with bibliographic data
• The description of the invention
• The claims
• Any drawings provided with the application
• The international search report (ISR)
• Any declarations filed under Article 19
• Any published sequence listing

The MPEP states: “The international publication also includes the written opinion established by the International Searching Authority unless superseded by a later written opinion by the International Preliminary Examining Authority or an international preliminary examination report.”