A. Terms and abbreviations 

ADA Arrangements for deposit accounts 

AI Administrative Instructions under the PCT 

Art. Article(s) (of the EPC or the PCT) 

CET Central European Time 

CNIPA China National Intellectual Property Administration 

DAS Digital Access Service 

EPC European Patent Convention 

EPO European Patent Office 

GL/EPO Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office (cited as follows: GL/EPO C‑III, 8.4 = Guidelines, Part C, Chapter III, Section 8, point 4) 

GL/ISPE PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines 

GL/PCT‑EPO Guidelines for Search and Examination at the European Patent Office as PCT Authority (cited as follows: GL/PCT‑EPO C‑III, 8.4 = Guidelines, Part C, Chapter III, Section 8, point 4) 

GL/RO PCT Receiving Office Guidelines 

IB International Bureau of WIPO 

IPEA International Preliminary Examining Authority 

IPER International Preliminary Examination Report 

IPRP International Preliminary Report on Patentability 

ISA International Searching Authority 

ISPE Guidelines PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines 

ISR International Search Report 

JPO Japan Patent Office 

KIPO Korean Intellectual Property Office 

OJ Official Journal of the European Patent Office (cited as follows until December 2013: OJ 2001, 459 = Official Journal, year 2001, page 459; and since January 2014 as: OJ 2015, A51 = Official Journal, year 2015, article 51) 

OJ 2007, Spec. ed.1 Special edition No. 1 of EPO Official Journal 2007 

OFF Office of first filing 

OSF Office of second filing 

PACE Programme for accelerated prosecution of European patent applications 

PCT Patent Cooperation Treaty 

PPH Patent Prosecution Highway 

R. Rule(s) of the Implementing Regulations (to the EPC or the PCT) 

RFees EPC Rules relating to Fees 

RO Receiving Office 

SIS Supplementary International Search 

SISA Supplementary International Searching Authority 

SISR SIS report 

SMEs Small and medium-sized enterprises 

USPTO United States Patent and Trademark Office 

WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization 

WIPO PCT Guide "PCT Applicant's Guide" published by the International Bureau of WIPO 

WO‑ISA Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority