Are signatures on facsimile-transmitted documents acceptable in international patent applications?

Yes, signatures on documents received via facsimile are generally acceptable in international patent applications, provided the facsimile transmission is permitted for that specific document type. The MPEP section 1834.01 states:

“A signature on a document received via facsimile in a permitted situation is acceptable as a proper signature.”

This acceptance is based on both international and U.S. regulations:

• PCT Rule 92.4(b)
• 37 CFR 1.4(d)(1)(ii)

It’s important to note that this applies only to documents that are permitted to be filed by facsimile. Certain documents, such as the initial international patent application, cannot be filed by fax and therefore would not fall under this provision for signature acceptance.

To learn more:

• signatures
• facsimile
• international patent applications
• PCT
• document filing