4.1.4.5 Lifting of the competence limitation 

4.1.019As a result of an amendment to the 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 IPEA, irrespective of the technical field in which the application is classified. It should, however, be noted that the notice from the EPO dated 1 October 2007 concerning business methods remains applicable.