Can a national patent office publish information about an international application before international publication?
A national patent office may inform third parties that it has been designated in an international application and publish that fact. However, the publication can only contain limited bibliographic data, as specified in PCT Article 30(2)(b): “Such information or publication may, however, contain only the following data: identification of the receiving Office, name of the…
Read MoreWhat is the confidential nature of international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?
International patent applications filed under the PCT are generally kept confidential and not made publicly available before international publication, which occurs soon after the expiration of 18 months from the priority date, according to PCT Article 21(2)(a). The International Bureau and International Searching Authorities are not allowed to give access to the application to any…
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