See also

CNIPA-EPO Pilot on ISA files

As of 1 December 2020, nationals or residents of P.R. China will be able to select the EPO as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and as their International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA).

 

PCT training and events (including online seminar recordings)

Want to learn more about the PCT procedure at the EPO?

PCT training and online seminars

 Dates  Location  Event
9 May  online seminar  PCT at the EPO for US paralegals and patent agents
27 June  online seminar  PCT at the EPO: Update on the latest PCT developments - in German
29 June  online seminar  PCT at the EPO: Update on the latest PCT developments - in English 
17 October online seminar  PCT at the EPO for European paralegals and patent agents
Date to be confirmed
online seminar PCT Update organised by the CNCPI, with the participation of the EPO and WIPO – in French

PCT online seminar recordings

Filing with the EPO as receiving Office

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10 April 2019 

Content:

  • Reasons for entering the PCT route
  • Main features of the EPO as receiving Office
  • Conditions for selecting the EPO as receiving Office
  • Overview of new services
  • Safety nets
  • An example: restoration of right of priority 

Working with the EPO as ISA

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15 May 2019 

Content:

  • The EPO as leading ISA in 2018
  • High quality searches and written opinions
  • Competence of the EPO to act as ISA
  • Overview of new services
  • Collaborative Search and Examination pilot
  • Applicant friendly fee policy

Working with the EPO as SISA and IPEA

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14 November 2019 

Content:

  • The EPO as SISA in 2019
  • High quality searches
  • Competence of the EPO to act as SISA
  • Requirements to file a SIS request
  • The EPO as IPEA in 2019
  • Competence of the EPO to act as IPEA
  • High quality examinations and written opinions
  • Consultation by telephone
  • Overview of services
  • Applicant friendly fee policy
  • Advantages of Ch. II PCT

Entry into the European phase

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21 November 2019 

Content:

  • Basic aspects and principles
  • Requirements for entry into the European phase: “must” and “should” requirements

PCT at the EPO (advanced)

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6 October 2020 

Content:

  • The role of biological sequences in patent applications
  • Filing an application containing
  • sequence listings (SL)
  • Fees for SL
  • SL for search purposes only on filing date
  • Ex officio correction
  • Clarification if several SL filed
  • Invitation to file SL in text format
  • Rectification of obvious mistake in a sequence listing
  • Missing sequence listing

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13 October 2020 

Content:

  • History and context
  • New Rule 20.5bis PCT: possible scenarios
  • Incompatibility with national law
  • Procedure before the EPO as RO
  • Procedure before the EPO as ISA
  • Procedure before the EPO as SISA and IPEA
  • Procedure before the EPO as DO


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20 October 2020 

Content:

  • Facts and figures
  • COVID-19 available remedies
  • PCT Direct service    

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27 October 2020 

Content:

  • Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Restoration of the right of priority - a possible remedy
  • Background and purpose
  • New developments at the RO/EP
  • Request for restoration
  • Admissibility
  • Decision on the merits of the case
  • Rule 26bis.3(h-bis)
  • Examples

Special PCT seminars

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29 April 2021 

Content:

  • PCT procedure before the EPO as International Authority
  • Overview of electronic interactions
  • Filing, receiving communications, fees, monitoring files
  • Paying fees
  • PCT legal updates

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28 January 2021 

Content:

  • Conditions for participating in the pilot
  • Why could it be interesting for applicants to participate?
  • Procedural specificities of the pilot
  • User support and information provided by the EPO and the CNIPA

Benefits for users

The EPO as a PCT authority

Did you know that applicants from all over the world can use the PCT procedure to get a high-quality search report from the EPO, the world's most popular searching authority? This early identification of relevant prior art enables you to predict outcomes in a highly cost-effective way.

Recent improvements to our services to applicants include:

  • Easier access to the EPO via ePCT online filing (can also be used to submit subsequently filed documents and demands for PCT Chapter II) and EPO participation in WIPO-DAS (since 1 November 2018).
  • Improved fee refund procedures (since 1 April 2019): users can now indicate in Form PCT/RO/101 a deposit account to which they want refunds to be made (where no deposit account is available, the EPO will invite the user to claim via our website).
  • New credit card and automatic debiting fee payment options.
  • Enhancement of search tools for EPO examiners, incorporating Asian and standards-related prior art to ensure top-quality search reports.
  • Timely provision of PCT search and examination results, backed up by the EPO's PCT Direct service information on the examiner's search strategy and, in cases of non-unity, a provisional opinion on the first invention.
  • EUR 100 (5%) reduction in international search and examination fees (since 1 April 2018). No supplementary European search fee payable if the international search was established by the EPO. 75% reduction in European examination fee if the EPO conducted the examination under PCT Chapter II.
  • Continuation of the CS&E pilot project for a second year.
  • Start of PCT Chapter II upon receipt of the demand (unless otherwise requested by the applicant) (starting 1 July 2019).
  • Greater interaction with the examiner during PCT Chapter II and a top-up search to increase your chances of prompt grant in the national phase.

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