Volume 6. International

Key Topics in this Volume

6.1 International Searching

• 6.1.1 Procedural Outline - PCT International Search

• 6.1.2 Introduction - International Searching

  • ​​​​​​​6.1.2.1 Overview - International Searching

  • 6.1.2.2 Overview - International Search Opinion (ISO)

  • 6.1.2.3 General Procedures - International Search and Opinion

  • 6.1.2.4 Extent of Search

  • 6.1.2.5 Minimum Documentation

  • 6.1.2.6 Examination Section Procedures

  • 6.1.2.7 Searching Examiner

  • 6.1.2.8 Other Considerations

  • 6.1.2.9 Copending Applications

• 6.1.3 Search Allocation and Preliminary Classification

  • 6.1.3.1 Allocation

  • 6.1.3.2 Preliminary Classification

• 6.1.4 Unity of Invention

  • 6.1.4.1 Unity of Invention Background

  • 6.1.4.2 Determining Lack of Unity

  • 6.1.4.3 Combinations of Different Categories of Claims

  • 6.1.4.4 Markush Practice

  • 6.1.4.5 Intermediate and Final Products in Chemical Applications

  • 6.1.4.6 Biotechnological Inventions

  • 6.1.4.7 Single General Inventive Concept

  • 6.1.4.8 A Priori and A Posteriori Lack of Unity

  • 6.1.4.9 Issuing the Invitation to Pay Additional Search Fees

  • 6.1.4.10 Unsupported Unclear Long

  • 6.1.4.11 Payment of Additional Search Fees Under Protest

  • 6.1.4.12 Completing the Search Report

  • 6.1.4.13 Time for Completing the Search Report

  • 6.1.4.14 Reported Decisions on Unity

  • 6.1.4.15 Other Decisions on Unity from the EPO

• 6.1.5 Abstract and Title

  • 6.1.5.1 Abstract

  • 6.1.5.2 Title

• 6.1.6 Subjects to be Excluded from the Search

• 6.1.7 Claim Interpretation, Broad Claims, PCT Articles 5 and 6​​​​​​​

  • 6.1.7.1 Claim Interpretation According to the PCT Guidelines

    • 6.1.7.1.1 PCT Guideline References and Flow Chart

    • 6.1.7.1.2 Overview of the Hierarchy

    • 6.1.7.1.3 Special Meaning, Ordinary Meaning, Everyday Meaning

    • 6.1.7.1.4 Closed and Open Definitions and Implications for Interpretation

    • 6.1.7.1.5 Implications of the Hierarchy on Searching

    • 6.1.7.1.6 PCT GL Appendix Paragraphs 5.20[1] and 5.20[2]

    • 6.1.7.1.7 Interpretation of Citations - Inherency

  • 6.1.7.2 Broad Claims

    • 6.1.7.2.1 Introduction Broad Claims

    • 6.1.7.2.2 Types of Broad Claims

  • 6.1.7.3 PCT Articles 5 and 6

  • 6.1.7.4 Claims Lacking Clarity and Excessive/Multitudinous Claims

  • 6.1.7.5 Procedure for Informal Communication with the Applicant

• 6.1.8 Search Strategy

  • 6.1.8.1 Introduction

  • 6.1.8.2 The Three Person Team (3PT)

  • 6.1.8.3 Area of Search

  • 6.1.8.4 Search Considerations

• 6.1.9 Basis of the Search

• 6.1.10 Non-Patent Literature

• 6.1.11 Search Procedure

  • 6.1.11.1 Overview - Novelty / Inventive Step

  • 6.1.11.2 Inventive Step

  • 6.1.11.3 Searching Product by Process Claims

  • 6.1.11.4 Dates Searched

  • 6.1.11.5 Conducting the Search

  • 6.1.11.6 Useful Techniques ("piggy back/forward" searching)

  • 6.1.11.7 Obtaining Full Copies

  • 6.1.11.8 Considering and Culling the Documents

  • 6.1.11.9 Ending the Search

  • 6.1.11.10 Categorising the Citations

  • 6.1.11.11 Grouping the Claims

• 6.1.12 Search Report and Notification Form Completion

  • 6.1.12.1 Background Search Report and Notification Form Completion

  • 6.1.12.2 Applicant Details

  • 6.1.12.3 General Details - ISR

  • 6.1.12.4 Fields Searched - ISR

  • 6.1.12.5 Documents Considered to be Relevant

    • 6.1.12.5.1 Selection of Documents Considered to be Relevant

    • 6.1.12.5.2 Citation Category

    • 6.1.12.5.3 Citation of Prior Art Documents

    • 6.1.12.5.4 Citation of URLs

    • 6.1.12.5.5 Citation Examples

    • 6.1.12.5.6 Citing Patent Documents Retrieved from EPOQUE

    • 6.1.12.5.7 Relevant Claim Numbers

  • 6.1.12.6 Family Member Identification

  • 6.1.12.7 Date of Actual Completion of the Search

  • 6.1.12.8 Refund Due

  • 6.1.12.9 Contents of Case File at Completion

• 6.1.13 Reissued, Amended or Corrected ISRs and ISOs

• 6.1.14 Priority Document

• 6.1.15 Foreign Patent Search Aids and Documentation

  • 6.1.15.1 Background Patent Search Aids and Documentation

  • 6.1.15.2 Hard Copy Documentation

• 6.1.16 Assistance with Foreign Languages

• 6.1.17 Rule 91 Obvious Mistakes in Documents

• 6.1.18 Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Listings

  • 6.1.18.1 Background Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Listings

  • 6.1.18.2 Office Practice

  • 6.1.18.3 Summary

• 6.1.19 Annexes

  • Annex A - Blank ISR

  • Annex B - Completed ISR

  • Annex C - Completed ISR

  • Annex D - Declaration of Non-Establishment of ISR

  • Annex E - Completed Invitation to pay additional fees

  • Annex F - Completed ISR with unity observations

  • Annex H - Searching Broad Claims

  • Annex I - Completed notification of change of abstract

  • Annex J - Completed notification of decision concerning request for rectification

  • Annex K - The role of the 3 Person Team in Searching

  • Annex S - Refund of Search Fees

  • Annex U - ISR Quality Checklist

  • Annex V - Internet Searching

    • Annex VA - Internet Searching 1

    • Annex VB - Internet Searching 2

  • Annex W - Obtaining full text from the internet

  • Annex Z - USPTO kind codes

  • Annex AA - Markush claims

  • Annex BB - Article 5/6 Comparisons

6.2 International Type Searching

• 6.2.1 Procedural Outline International Type Search Report

• 6.2.2 Introduction - International Type Searching

• 6.2.3 Classification and Search Indication

• 6.2.4 Unity of Invention

• 6.2.5 Subjects to be Excluded from the Search

• 6.2.6 Obscurities, Inconsistencies or Contradictions

• 6.2.7 Abstract and Title

• 6.2.8 Search Report

• 6.2.9 Completing Search Report and Opinion Form

• 6.2.10 Annexes​​​​​​​

  • Annex A - 15(5) Request Acknowledgement Letter​​​​​​​

  • Annex B - Search Statement Request Letter

  • Annex C - Blank Art 15(5) Search Form

  • Annex D - Extracting Publications Numbers From EPOQUE Viewer

  • Annex E - Extracting Patent Information From STN

  • Annex F - Extracting Patent Information From GenomeQuest

​​​​​​​6.3 International Examination

• 6.3.1 Procedural Outline Written Opinion

• 6.3.2 Introduction International Examination

• 6.3.3 The Demand and IPRPII

  • 6.3.3.1 Overview of The Demand and IPRPII

  • 6.3.3.2 Timeframe for Demand and IPRPII

• 6.3.4 Top-up Search

  • 6.3.4.1 Demand and Top-up Search

  • 6.3.4.2 Determining Cost of a Top-up Search on EPOQUE

• 6.3.5 First IPE action

  • 6.3.5.1 Introduction - First IPE Action

  • 6.3.5.2 Supplementary International Search Report

  • 6.3.5.3 PCT Third Party Observations

• 6.3.6 Response to Opinion

  • 6.3.6.1 Overview - Response to Opinion

  • 6.3.6.2 Extensions of Time to Respond to Opinions

• 6.3.7 IPRPII and Notification

• 6.3.8 Completing ISO, IPEO and IPRPII Forms

  • 6.3.8.1 Front Page and Notification Application Details

  • 6.3.8.2 Box I Basis of Opinion/Report for ISOs, IPEOs and IPRPs

  • 6.3.8.3 Box II Priority

  • 6.3.8.4 Box III Non-Establishment of Opinion with Regard to Novelty, Inventive Step & Industrial Applicability

  • 6.3.8.5 Box IV Unity of Invention

  • 6.3.8.6 Box V Reasoned Statement Regarding Novelty, Inventive Step ＆ Industrial Applicability

    • ​​​​​​​6.3.8.6.1 Novelty

    • 6.3.8.6.2 Inventive Step

    • ​​​​​​​6.3.8.6.3 Industrial Applicability​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • 6.3.8.7 Box VI Certain Documents Cited

  • 6.3.8.8 Box VII Certain Defects

  • 6.3.8.9 Box VIII Certain Observations​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• 6.3.9 General Considerations

  • 6.3.9.1 Article 19 or Article 34(2)(b) Amendments

  • 6.3.9.2 Formalities

  • 6.3.9.3 General Notes on Form Completion

  • 6.3.9.4 Rule 91 Obvious Mistakes in Documents

  • 6.3.9.5 Processing withdrawals of PCTs

• 6.3.10 Annexes

  • Annex A - Written Opinion-ISR

  • Annex B - Written Opinion-IPEO

  • Annex C - Notification of Transmittal of IPERII

  • Annex D - IPRPII

  • Annex E - IPRPII Clear Novel and Inventive Box V Only

  • Annex F - Invitation to Restrict/Pay Additional Fees - Unity

  • Annex G - Extension of Time Limit

  • Annex H - IPE Quality Checklist

  • Annex I - Examples of Inventive Step Objections

  • Annex J - Examples of Objections under PCT Articles 5 and 6

  • Annex K - Example of PCT Third Party Observations

  • Annex L - Blank Written Opinion - ISA

  • Annex M - Blank Written Opinion - IPEO

  • Annex N - Blank IPRPII

  • Annex O - ISO/ISR with Omnibus Claims

  • Annex P - PCT Timeline

  • Annex Z - Best Practice Examples

    • Annex AA - Best Practice Example 1

    • Annex AB - Best Practice Example 2

    • Annex AC - Best Practice Example 3

    • Annex AD - Best Practice Example 4

​​​​​​​6.4 Fiji Applications

• 6.4.1 Introduction

• 6.4.2 Completion Time and Priority

• 6.4.3 Initial Processing

• 6.4.4 Search Procedure

• 6.4.5 Search Report and Advisory Opinion

• 6.4.6 Further Advisory Opinion

• 6.4.7 Final Processing

• 6.4.8 Annexes​​​​​​​

  • 6.4.8.1 Annex A - Fiji Search Report 1

  • 6.4.8.2 Annex B - Fiji Search Report 2​​​​​​​

6.5 Thai Applications

• 6.5.1 Introduction to Thai Applications

• 6.5.2 Completion Time and Priority Thai

• 6.5.3 Initial Processing

• 6.5.4 Search Procedure

• 6.5.5 Search Report

• 6.5.6 Final Processing

• 6.5.7 Annex A - Thai Search Report

6.6 WIPO Searches

• 6.6.1 Introduction

• 6.6.2 Completion Time and Priority

• 6.6.3 Initial Processing

• 6.6.4 Search Procedure

• 6.6.5 Search Report

• 6.6.6 Final Processing

• 6.6.7 Annexes​​​​​​​

  • Annex A.1 - WIPO search request guidelines

  • Annex A.2 - WIPO search request

  • Annex A.3 - WIPO search request​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

6.7 Other Countries

6.8 PCT Articles, Regulations and Guidelines et al

6.9 Miscellaneous

• 6.9.1 Current Allocation of PCT Related Duties

• 6.9.2 International Online Specialists

• 6.9.3 Authorised Officer

• 6.9.4 Minimum Levels of Responsibility

• 6.9.5 Examiners with Foreign Language Capabilities

• 6.9.6 Current Status of APO as an RO ISA and IPEA