Brief Tour Report on the Thirty First Meeting of International Authorities under Patent Cooperation Treaty

The Thirty-First Meeting of International Authorities under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was held in Beijing, China, from October 16th to 17th, 2024. Three officials from the O/o CGPDTM participated in the program.

The meeting on PCT statistics highlighted key points including a decline in PCT filings for top authorities, increased online filings, India's strong performance in transmitting ISR and IPER and a global decline in International Preliminary Reports on Patentability.

The 14th Informal Quality Subgroup meeting discussed recommendations on publishing quality reports, inviting participation in paired reviews and discussions, and approving standardized clauses on unity of invention. It also highlighted the need for regular updates on International Authorities' practices and creating a new forum topic for issues raised by the Korean and Israel Patent Offices.

The meeting on document PCT/MIA/31/2 agreed on no changes to ISR forms, while modifying guidelines for citing non-written disclosures and discussing issues related to their storage. It also emphasized continued consideration of copyright concerns and potential amendments to PCT regulations regarding category "O" documents.

The meeting on document PCT/MIA/31/4 discussed the PCT Text Processing Task Force, emphasizing the benefits of full-text processing over OCR, but raised concerns about IT constraints and file format compatibility. Authorities expressed caution regarding the transition to XML and the handling of color drawings, with discussions on the limitations of DOCX and the impact on document consistency across systems.

The meeting on document PCT/MIA/31/7 discussed the proposal to merge the ISR and WO, with mixed responses on its feasibility, cost, and potential system disruptions. It also addressed the suggestion to stop publishing the ISR with International Publication, highlighting the need for legal changes and a user survey before proceeding.

The meeting discussed the document PCT/MIA/31/9 and PCT/MIA/31/10 and proposed modifications to Boxes VII, VIII, and IV of PCT forms, with authorities raising concerns about IT costs and suggesting amendments to guidelines. It was agreed to continue discussions in the Quality Subgroup electronic forum to clarify the content and usage of these boxes, incorporating feedback on the proposed modifications.

The meeting discussed PCT/MIA/31/8 agreed on the proposed 18-month timeline for the extension of appointment of International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities and decided to finalize the application format through further discussions in the PCT/MIA Quality Subgroup electronic forum. The timetable and proposed format will be submitted for consideration at the PCT Working Group session in February 2025.

The meeting on document PCT/MIA/31/3 supported the streamlined format of the draft model agreement and amendments to the PCT Regulations, with some authorities suggesting updates to negotiation timelines and flexibility in wording. The draft model agreement will be submitted for consideration at the PCT Working Group session in February 2025, incorporating feedback from the meeting.

The meeting on document PCT/MIA/31/6 discussed the creation of the Authority File Task Force by the CWS to support compliance with WIPO Standard ST.37, encouraging authorities to prepare for upcoming requirements for PCT minimum documentation by January 1, 2026.

The meeting on document PCT/MIA/31/5 discussed the release of WIPO Sequence Validator version 3.0.0, highlighting its success and the potential for future improvements in sequence listing processing, with integration into the ePCT system.

Authorities found the combination of remote and in-person sessions of the Quality Subgroup beneficial, enabling equal participation and further development of work.