Guide for applicants, Part 2

PCT procedure before the EPO ("Euro-PCT")

Part 2 of the "Guide for applicants" is aimed at those interested in pursuing the procedure under the PCT and focuses on elements specific to the PCT procedure before the EPO. This part of the Guide is referred to as the "Euro-PCT Guide" to distinguish it from the PCT Applicant's Guide published by WIPO ("WIPO PCT Guide").

The "Euro-PCT Guide" aims to cover all the points to note when the EPO acts in its capacity as:

• a receiving office,
• an International Searching Authority (ISA), Supplementary International Searching Authority (SISA) and/or International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA), and/or
• a designated or an elected office ("European phase").

Important information about updates

The PDF and HTML versions of the Euro-PCT Guide reflect the status on 1 October 2012.

The 6th edition of the Euro-PCT Guide (Updated until 1 October 2012) will be released in print in January 2013. Copies can already be pre‑ordered at csc@epo.org.

The Euro-PCT Guide merely provides an overview of the Euro-PCT procedure and does not replace the relevant publications of the EPO and WIPO.