Are color drawings allowed in PCT applications?
No, color drawings are not allowed in PCT applications. According to MPEP 1825, “Color drawings are not acceptable.” All drawings must be executed in black, with uniformly thick and well-defined lines. This requirement ensures clarity and reproducibility of the drawings across different patent offices and reproduction methods.
However, in exceptional cases where it’s impossible to present certain information in a black and white drawing (e.g., crystalline structures), photographs may be allowed. The MPEP states: “Where, exceptionally, photographs are submitted, they must be on sheets of A4 size, they must be black and white, and they must respect the minimum margins and admit of direct reproduction. Color photographs are not accepted.“
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