United States Patent and Trademark Office OG Notices: 14 February 2006
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Information
For information concerning PCT member countries, see the notice
appearing in the Official Gazette at 1300 O.G. 4, on November 1, 2005.
European Patent Office as Searching and Examining Authority
The European Patent Office (EPO) may act as the International Searching
Authority (ISA) for an international application filed with the United
States Receiving Office or the International Bureau (IB) as Receiving
Office where at least one of the applicants is either a national or
resident of the United States of America. However, the EPO is no longer
a competent ISA, within the meaning of PCT Article 16(3), for
international applications filed by U.S. residents or nationals on or
after 01 March 2002 in the USPTO or IB as Receiving Office, and where
the application contains one or more claims directed to the field of
business methods. For the definition of what the EPO considers to be
precluded subject matter in the field of business methods, applicants
should see the "Notice from the President of the European Patent
Office," dated 26 November 2001, and which was published as Annex A in
the "Notice Concerning EPO Competence to Act as PCT Authority" in
the Official Gazette at 1255 O.G. 878, on February 19, 2002.
The European Patent Office may act as the International
Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for an international application
filed in the United States Receiving Office or the International Bureau
as Receiving Office where at least one of the applicants is either a
national or resident of the United States of America, provided that the
European Patent Office acted as the International Searching Authority.
However, the EPO is no longer a competent IPEA, within the meaning of
PCT Article 32(3), for international applications filed by U.S.
residents or nationals in the USPTO or IB as a Receiving Office where
the corresponding demand is filed with the EPO on or after 01 March
2002, and where the application contains one or more claims directed to
the fields of business methods.
The EPO resumed its competence as an International Searching
Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority, effective
January 1, 2004, for international applications filed by nationals or
residents of the United States of America where the application
contains one or more claims relating to the field of biotechnology.
This change was announced in the Official Gazette at 1277 O.G. 230, on
December 30, 2003.
The EPO resumed its competence as an International Preliminary
Examining Authority, effective July 1, 2004, for demands filed by U.S.
residents or nationals on or after July 1, 2004, for international
applications filed by nationals or residents of the United States of
America where the application contains one or more claims relating to
the field of telecommunications. This change was announced in the
Official Gazette at 1277 O.G. 230, on December 30, 2003.
The search fee of the European Patent Office was decreased,
effective January 1, 2006, and was announced in the Official Gazette
at 1301 O.G. 80, on December 20, 2005.
Korean Intellectual Property Office as Searching and Examining Authority
For use of the Korean Intellectual Property Office as an International
Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority for
international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office,
see the notice appearing in the Official Gazette at 1302 O.G. 1261 on
January 17, 2005.
Fees
International fees were changed, effective on January 1, 2006,
due to a change in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar with regard to
the Swiss franc, and were announced in the Official Gazette at 1301
O.G. 80 on December 20, 2005.
The schedule of PCT fees (in U.S. dollars), as of January 1, 2006,
is as follows:
International Application (PCT Chapter I) fees:
Transmittal fee: $300.00
Search Fee
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as
International Searching Authority (ISA)
- Corresponding prior U.S. national
application has been filed under 35 U.S.C.
111(a),
(i) prior to December 8, 2004, the basic filing
fee under 37 CFR 1.16(a) has been paid, or
(ii) on or after December 8, 2004, the basic
filing fee under 37 CFR 1.16(a), the search
fee under 37 CFR 1.16(k) and the examination
fee under 37 CFR 1.16(o) have been paid and
the prior U.S. national application is
identified by the application number if known,
or if the application number is not known, by
the filing date, title and name of applicant
(and preferably by the application docket
number), in the international application or
accompanying the papers at the time of filing
of the international application $300.00
- All other situations (including situation where no
prior corresponding US national application filed
under 35 USC 111(a)) $1,000.00
- Supplemental search fee, per additional
invention (payable only upon invitation) $1,000.00
European Patent Office as ISA $1,871.00
Korean Intellectual Property Office as ISA $218.00
International fees
International filing fee $1,086.00
Supplemental fee for each page over 30 $12.00
(A reduction of $78 in the international fees is available in certain
cases where PCT-EASY software is used to prepare the request, provided
that the necessary conditions are met. See 1217 OG 131
(December 29, 1998)).
International Application (PCT Chapter II) fees associated
with filing a Demand for Preliminary Examination:
Handling fee $155.00
Preliminary examination fee
USPTO as International Preliminary
Examining Authority (IPEA)
- USPTO was ISA in PCT Chapter I $600.00
- USPTO was not ISA in PCT Chapter I $750.00
- Additional preliminary examination fee,
per additional invention
(payable only upon invitation) $600.00
Certain domestic fees have been changed, effective December 8, 2004,
in accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 and
by a revision in USPTO rules adjusting search and examination fees,
effective July 1, 2005. The change in search and examination
fees was announced in the Federal Register on June 20, 2005.
Small
U.S. National Stage fees Entity Regular
Basic National fee $150.00 $300.00
Search Fee
Where the written opinion prepared by
ISA/US or the international
preliminary examination report
prepared by the IPEA/US indicates
that all claims satisfy provisions
of PCT Article 33(1)-(4) $0.00 $0.00
USPTO was ISA $50.00 $100.00
USPTO was neither ISA nor IPEA
- Search report has been prepared
by an ISA other than the US
and is provided, or previously
communicated by the
International Bureau, to the
Office $200.00 $400.00
- All other situations $250.00 $500.00
Examination Fee
Where the written opinion prepared by
ISA/US or the international
preliminary examination report
prepared by the IPEA/US indicates
that all claims satisfy provisions
of PCT Article 33(1) to (4) $0.00 $0.00
All other situations $100.00 $200.00
Other National fees
For each independent claim
in excess of 3 $100.00 $200.00
For each claim in excess of 20 $25.00 $50.00
For each application containing
a multiple dependent claim $180.00 $360.00
For every 50 sheets or fraction thereof
of the specification and drawings that
exceed 100 sheets (excluding any
sequence listing or computer program
listing filed in an electronic medium) $125.00 $250.00
Surcharge for filing any of the search fee,
the examination fee, or the oath or
declaration after the date of commencement
of the national stage (37 CFR 1.491(a))
pursuant to 37 CFR 1.495(c) $65.00 $130.00
Processing fee for filing English
translation later than 30 months after the
priority date (37 CFR 1.495(c) and (e)) $130.00 $130.00
December 22, 2005 JON W. DUDAS
Under Secretary of Commerce for
Intellectual Property and Director of the
United States Patent and Trademark Office