PCT Article 17 — – Procedure Before the International Searching (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP
PCT Article 17 – Procedure Before the International Searching
Source: Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)BlueIron Update:
This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting PCT Article 17, including 55 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
This section addresses the procedure before international searching, specifically regarding renewal fees for U.S. patents issued from international design applications, stating that no such fees are required.
What this section covers
- Defines the procedure before international searching and how it applies to U.S. patents issued from international design applications.
Key obligations
- Understand that no renewal fees are required for maintaining a U.S. patent issuing from an international design application.
- Ensure that no renewal fees are mistakenly paid for a U.S. patent not subject to such fees due to its issuance from an international design application.
Practice notes
- Review the international design application to confirm that no renewal fees are required for maintaining a U.S. patent issuing from it.
Official MPEP § 17 — – Procedure Before the International Searching
Source: USPTOLast Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22
Article 17 – Procedure Before the International Searching Authority
- (1) Procedure before the International Searching Authority shall be governed by the provisions of this Treaty, the Regulations, and the agreement which the International Bureau shall conclude, subject to this Treaty and the Regulations, with the said Authority.
- (2)
- (a) If the International Searching Authority considers:
- (i) that the international application relates to a subject matter which the International Searching Authority is not required, under the Regulations, to search, and in the particular case decides not to search, or
- (ii) that the description, the claims, or the drawings, fail to comply with the prescribed requirements to such an extent that a meaningful search could not be carried out, the said Authority shall so declare and shall notify the applicant and the International Bureau that no international search report will be established.
- (b) If any of the situations referred to in subparagraph (a) is found to exist in connection with certain claims only, the international search report shall so indicate in respect of such claims, whereas, for the other claims, the said report shall be established as provided in Article 18 .
- (a) If the International Searching Authority considers:
- (3)
- (a) If the International Searching Authority considers that the international application does not comply with the requirement of unity of invention as set forth in the Regulations, it shall invite the applicant to pay additional fees. The International Searching Authority shall establish the international search report on those parts of the international application which relate to the invention first mentioned in the claims (“main invention”) and, provided the required additional fees have been paid within the prescribed time limit, on those parts of the international application which relate to inventions in respect of which the said fees were paid.
- (b) The national law of any designated State may provide that, where the national Office of that State finds the invitation, referred to in subparagraph (a), of the International Searching Authority justified and where the applicant has not paid all additional fees, those parts of the international application which consequently have not been searched shall, as far as effects in that State are concerned, be considered withdrawn unless a special fee is paid by the applicant to the national Office of that State.
- Design Patents
- Design Term
- International Design
- Hague Principles
- Ida Grant
- Ida Requirements
- Ida Contents
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- Pct Amendments Article 19
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- Pct Description Claims
- Pct International Search
- Pct Unity Invention
- Sequence Listing