PCT Rule 64 — Prior Art for International Preliminary (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP
PCT Rule 64 Prior Art for International Preliminary
This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting PCT Rule 64, including 15 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 International Preliminary Examining Authority must conduct a top-up search to discover new documents relevant to prior art after the initial international search has been completed.
What this section covers
- This section covers the process of conducting a top-up search after an initial international search to identify new documents relevant to prior art for international preliminary examination.
Key obligations
- The International Preliminary Examining Authority must conduct a top-up search to identify new documents that have been published or made available after the initial international search.
Practice notes
- Practitioners should ensure all relevant documents are considered during the top-up search to comply with MPEP § 1878-ccf100bf3d3df0cbdc3ac860.
Official MPEP § 64 — Prior Art for International Preliminary
Source: USPTOLast Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22
Rule 64 Prior Art for International Preliminary Examination
64.1 Prior Art
- (a) For the purposes of Article 33(2) and (3) , everything made available to the public anywhere in the world by means of written disclosure (including drawings and other illustrations) shall be considered prior art provided that such making available occurred prior to the relevant date.
- (b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), the relevant date shall
be:
- (i) subject to items (ii) and (iii), the international filing date of the international application under international preliminary examination;
- (ii) where the international application under international preliminary examination claims the priority of an earlier application and has an international filing date which is within the priority period, the filing date of such earlier application, unless the International Preliminary Examining Authority considers that the priority claim is not valid;
- (iii) where the international application under international preliminary examination claims the priority of an earlier application and has an international filing date which is later than the date on which the priority period expired but within the period of two months from that date, the filing date of such earlier application, unless the International Preliminary Examining Authority considers that the priority claim is not valid for reasons other than the fact that the international application has an international filing date which is later than the date on which the priority period expired.
64.2 Non-Written Disclosures
In cases where the making available to the public occurred by means of an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other non-written means (“non-written disclosure”) before the relevant date as defined in Rule 64.1(b) and the date of such non-written disclosure is indicated in a written disclosure which has been made available to the public on a date which is the same as, or later than, the relevant date, the non-written disclosure shall not be considered part of the prior art for the purposes of Article 33(2) and (3) . Nevertheless, the international preliminary examination report shall call attention to such non-written disclosure in the manner provided for in Rule 70.9 .
64.3 Certain Published Documents
In cases where any application or any patent which would constitute prior art for the purposes of Article 33(2) and (3) had it been published prior to the relevant date referred to in Rule 64.1 was published on a date which is the same as, or later than, the relevant date but was filed earlier than the relevant date or claimed the priority of an earlier application which had been filed prior to the relevant date, such published application or patent shall not be considered part of the prior art for the purposes of Article 33(2) and (3) . Nevertheless, the international preliminary examination report shall call attention to such application or patent in the manner provided for in Rule 70.10 .
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- Pct Amendments Article 19
- Pct Filing
- Pct International Preliminary Examination
| MPEP Section | Rules |
|---|---|
| MPEP § 1843.01 | |
| MPEP § 1878 | |
| MPEP § 1878.01(a) | |
| MPEP § 1879 |