		  Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Information

   For information concerning PCT member countries, see the notice 
appearing in the Official Gazette at 1263 O.G. 42, on October 08, 2002. 

   Either the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or 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 US 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 fields of 
biotechnology or business methods.  For the definition of what the EPO 
considers to be precluded subject matter in the fields of 
biotechnology and business methods, applicants should see the "Notice from 
the President of the European Patent Office," dated 26 November 2001, and 
which is 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 US residents or 
nationals in the USPTO or IB as 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 
biotechnology, business methods or telecommunication.  For the definition 
of what the EPO considers to be precluded subject matter in the 
field of telecommunication, applicants should see the "Notice from 
the President of the European Patent Office," dated 26 November 2001, and 
which is 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 search fee of the European Patent Office was increased, effective 
October 15, 2002, and was announced in the Official Gazette at 1263 O.G. 42, 
on October 8, 2002.

   International fees were changed, effective on January 1, 2002, 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 1253 O.G. 88 on 
December 25, 2001.  A change in the maximum number of designation fees 
payable, with effect from January 1, 2002, was announced in the Official 
Gazette at 1253 O.G. 88, on December 25, 2001.  A change in the reduction 
for electronic filing, with effect from January 1, 2002, was announced in 
the Official Gazette at 1253 O.G. 88, on December 25, 2001. 

   Certain domestic PCT fees have been changed, effective October 1, 2001, 
to adjust certain patent fee amounts to reflect fluctuations in the 
Consumer Price Index.  The revisions were announced in the Official Gazette 
at 1249 O.G. 111, on August 28, 2001.  
 
   The schedule of PCT fees (in U.S. dollars), as of October 15, 2002, 
is as follows: 

International Application (PCT Chapter I) fees:
   Transmittal fee:                                                 $240.00
   Search Fee  
      U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as 
      International Searching Authority (ISA)  
         - No corresponding prior U.S. national 
           application filed under
           35 U.S.C. 111(a)                                         $700.00
         - Corresponding prior U.S. national 
           application filed under 35 U.S.C. 
           111(a) and filing fee under 
           37 CFR 1.16(a) paid                                      $450.00
         - Supplemental search fee, per 			    
           additional invention (payable only upon invitation)      $210.00
      European Patent Office as ISA                                 $936.00
   International fees  
      Basic fee                                                     $407.00
      Basic supplemental fee (for each page
      over 30)                                                        $9.00
      Designation fee per country or region 
         - For the first 5 national or regional  
         offices designated                                          $88.00
         - For each designation in excess 
         of 5 offices                                             No Charge
         Precautionary designation fee and confirmation fee 
         for each precautionary designation confirmed 
         (PCT Rule 15.5)
         - Designation fee                                           $88.00
         - Confirmation fee                                          $44.00

(A reduction of $125 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                                                  $146.00
      Preliminary examination fee  
         USPTO as International Preliminary
         Examining Authority (IPEA) 
       - USPTO was ISA in PCT Chapter I                             $490.00
         - Additional examination fee, per 			    
         additional invention (payable only 
         upon invitation)                                           $140.00
       - USPTO was not ISA in PCT Chapter I                         $750.00
         - Additional examination fee, 
         per additional invention (payable 
         only upon invitation)                                      $270.00
                                                    
                                                        Small     
U.S. National Stage Fees                                Entity      Regular

Basic National fee
   USPTO was IPEA
     - All claims presented satisfied 
        provisions of PCT Article 
        33(2) to (4)                                     $50.00     $100.00      	
     - All claims presented did not satisfy
        provisions of PCT Article 
        33(2) to (4)                                    $355.00     $710.00		
   USPTO was ISA but not IPEA                           $370.00     $740.00		
   USPTO was neither ISA nor IPEA
     - Search report has not been prepared
        by the European Patent Office or  
        the Japan Patent Office                      	$520.00   $1,040.00
     - Search report has been prepared by
        the European Patent Office or the 
        Japan Patent Office                          	$445.00	    $890.00

Other National fees
   - For each independent 
      claim in excess of 3                               $42.00      $84.00
   - For each claim in excess of 20                       $9.00	     $18.00
   - For each application con-
      taining a multiple depen-
      dent claim                                        $140.00	    $280.00
   - Surcharge for filing oath or 				    
      declaration after the time 
      limit applicable under PCT 
      Article 22 or 39(1)                                $65.00     $130.00
   - Processing fee for filing 
      English translation after 
      the time limit applicable 
      under PCT Article 22 or
      39(1)                                             $130.00     $130.00

September 20, 2002 		 		             JAMES E. ROGAN
		                            Under Secretary of Commerce for 
				  Intellectual Property and Director of the 
				  United States Patent and Trademark Office
