PCT Article 20 — – Communication to Designated Offices (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting PCT Article 20, including 32 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 – Communication to Designated Offices section covers the requirement for applicants to file amendments to claims within 2 months of receiving an international search report and provide brief explanations if necessary.

What this section covers

This section covers the communication of amendments and statements to designated offices within the PCT process, focusing on the 2-month period after receiving an international search report.

Key obligations

Applicants must file amendments to claims within 2 months of receiving the international search report.
Applicants may file a brief statement explaining the amendments if necessary.

Practice notes

Ensure all amendments are filed within the 2-month period to avoid losing rights.
Include a brief statement explaining any amendments if the explanation is not clear from the amendment itself.

2-Month Amendment Period After Search ReportMPEP 1801Permitted
Amendments and Search Report Published at 18 MonthsMPEP 1801
ISA Written Opinion Not Publicly Available Until 30 MonthsMPEP 1801
ISA Written Opinion and Applicant Comments Publicly AvailableMPEP 1801
Abstract Must Be Included In International PublicationMPEP 1801
Amendments to Claims Must Be Published With Search ReportMPEP 1801
Search Report and Abstract Must Be in English If Application Is Not in EnglishMPEP 1801
Gazette Contains Published Application InformationMPEP 1801
International Application Publications Sent to Designated OfficesMPEP 1801
Abstract Must Appear on Cover PageMPEP 1893.03(e)
Abstract from Published Application Used in U.S.MPEP 1893.03(e)
Incorporation By Reference of Sequence Listing XML RequiredMPEP 2413.04
Requirement for Sequence Listing XML File DetailsMPEP 2413.04
Requirement for Sequence Listing XML SubmissionMPEP 2413.04
Request, Reasons, and Comments Must Be Included in Communication When Application Not PublishedMPEP 1836Required
International Applications Published Weekly on ThursdaysMPEP 1857
Published International Applications Available on WIPO’s PatentscopeMPEP 1857
Abstract Not Required on Separate Sheet for Published International ApplicationMPEP 1893.03(e)
Published International Applications Sent to Requesting OfficesMPEP 1857
Publish Requested Rectification When RefusedMPEP 1836Required
Supplementary Search Rules Apply Mutatis MutandisMPEP 1856Required
Supplementary International Search Report RequirementMPEP 1856Required
Article 20(3) and Rule 44.3 Apply Mutatis MutandisMPEP 1856Required
Supplementary International Search Report as Part of Main ReportMPEP 1856Required
Notification to Elected Office with CommunicationMPEP 1881Required
Communication Required Before International PublicationMPEP 1881Required

No Further Sequence Listing Required for PCT Filed ApplicationsMPEP 2422.03Required
Copy of International Application Including Sequence Listing RequiredMPEP 2422.03Required
Request, Reasons, and Comments Must Be Included in Communication When Application Not PublishedMPEP 1836Required
Publish Requested Rectification When RefusedMPEP 1836Required
Supplementary Search Rules Apply Mutatis MutandisMPEP 1856Required
Supplementary International Search Report RequirementMPEP 1856Required
Article 20(3) and Rule 44.3 Apply Mutatis MutandisMPEP 1856Required
Supplementary International Search Report as Part of Main ReportMPEP 1856Required
Notification to Elected Office with CommunicationMPEP 1881Required
Communication Required Before International PublicationMPEP 1881Required

Sequence Listing in ASCII Format Must Be IncludedMPEP 2422.03
Mega-Sequence Listing Fee for National Stage ApplicationsMPEP 2422.03(a)
Fee Due for Mega-Sequence Listings in Continuing ApplicationsMPEP 2422.03(a)
Sequence Listing Submission Fee Not Applicable to International Applications in International StageMPEP 2422.03

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 1801	2-Month Amendment Period After Search ReportMPEP 1801Permitted Amendments and Search Report Published at 18 MonthsMPEP 1801 ISA Written Opinion Not Publicly Available Until 30 MonthsMPEP 1801 ISA Written Opinion and Applicant Comments Publicly AvailableMPEP 1801 Abstract Must Be Included In International PublicationMPEP 1801 Amendments to Claims Must Be Published With Search ReportMPEP 1801 Search Report and Abstract Must Be in English If Application Is Not in EnglishMPEP 1801 Gazette Contains Published Application InformationMPEP 1801 International Application Publications Sent to Designated OfficesMPEP 1801
MPEP § 1836	Request, Reasons, and Comments Must Be Included in Communication When Application Not PublishedMPEP 1836Required Publish Requested Rectification When RefusedMPEP 1836Required
MPEP § 1856	Supplementary Search Rules Apply Mutatis MutandisMPEP 1856Required Supplementary International Search Report RequirementMPEP 1856Required Article 20(3) and Rule 44.3 Apply Mutatis MutandisMPEP 1856Required Supplementary International Search Report as Part of Main ReportMPEP 1856Required
MPEP § 1857	International Applications Published Weekly on ThursdaysMPEP 1857 Published International Applications Available on WIPO’s PatentscopeMPEP 1857 Published International Applications Sent to Requesting OfficesMPEP 1857
MPEP § 1881	Notification to Elected Office with CommunicationMPEP 1881Required Communication Required Before International PublicationMPEP 1881Required
MPEP § 1893.03(e)	Abstract Must Appear on Cover PageMPEP 1893.03(e) Abstract from Published Application Used in U.S.MPEP 1893.03(e) Abstract Not Required on Separate Sheet for Published International ApplicationMPEP 1893.03(e)
MPEP § 2413.04	Incorporation By Reference of Sequence Listing XML RequiredMPEP 2413.04 Requirement for Sequence Listing XML File DetailsMPEP 2413.04 Requirement for Sequence Listing XML SubmissionMPEP 2413.04
MPEP § 2422.03	Sequence Listing in ASCII Format Must Be IncludedMPEP 2422.03 No Further Sequence Listing Required for PCT Filed ApplicationsMPEP 2422.03Required Copy of International Application Including Sequence Listing RequiredMPEP 2422.03Required Sequence Listing Submission Fee Not Applicable to International Applications in International StageMPEP 2422.03
MPEP § 2422.03(a)	Mega-Sequence Listing Fee for National Stage ApplicationsMPEP 2422.03(a) Fee Due for Mega-Sequence Listings in Continuing ApplicationsMPEP 2422.03(a)

Related Provisions

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

PCT Article 20 — – Communication to Designated Offices (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

PCT Article 20 – Communication to Designated Offices

Summary

Official MPEP § 20 — – Communication to Designated Offices

Article 20 – Communication to Designated Offices

Verbatim in MPEP

Required Actions

Key Interpretations

Topics

MPEP Coverage

Related Provisions