3.1.3.3 Lifting of the competence limitation 

3.1.010As a result of an amendment to the previous Agreement between the EPO and WIPO under the PCT, any national or resident of the USA filing an international application on or after 1 January 2015 with the USPTO or the IB as receiving Office can select the EPO as ISA or IPEA, irrespective of the technical field of the international application. This amendment is reflected in the current agreement which entered into force on 1 January 2018. It should, however, be noted that the Notice from the EPO dated 1 October 2007 concerning business methods remains applicable (see point 3.3.005).