This page is an FAQ based on guidance 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.
Section 605 of the PCT Administrative Instructions outlines the file usage for International Preliminary Examination. Specifically, it states:
“Where the International Preliminary Examining Authority is part of the same national Office or intergovernmental organization as the International Searching Authority, the same file shall serve the purposes of international search and international preliminary examination.”
This means that when the same organization conducts both the international search and preliminary examination, they use a single file for both processes, promoting efficiency and consistency in the examination process.