37 CFR § 1.432 — Designation of States by filing an international (MPEP Index) – BlueIron IP

37 CFR § 1.432 Designation of States by filing an international

Source: Patent Rule (37 CFR)BlueIron Update:

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 1.432, including 7 rules 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.

Summary

The filing of an international application designates all Contracting States that are bound by the Treaty on the international filing date, with certain exceptions.

What this section covers

  • This section covers the designation of Contracting States in an international application.

Key obligations

  • Filing an international application constitutes the designation of all Contracting States bound by the Treaty.
  • An indication must be provided for each Contracting State in which protection is sought.

Conditions and exceptions

  • Certain States may be excepted from the all-inclusive designation system under limited circumstances.

Practice notes

  • Practitioners should ensure all Contracting States are properly designated in the international application.
  • Missing or incorrectly designating states could lead to loss of priority rights.

Related Provisions

Based on MPEP Last Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22