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1.1.4.13 Time for Completing the Search Report

Date Published

​​​​​​​Rule 42 of the PCT Guidelines states that the time limit for establishing the international search report or the declaration referred to in Article 17(2)(a) shall be three months from the receipt of the search copy by the International Searching Authority, or nine months from the priority date, whichever time limit expires later. However, Examiners should generally aim to complete the international search report within 9 weeks where there is one invention . See the Customer Service Charter Timeliness Guidelines for more information, including when to issue apologies, and the requirements for where there is more than one invention.

If an invitation to pay additional search fees is issued, the PCT Unit will update the CSC Due Date to reflect 12 weeks from receipt of the search copy by the ISA.

Amended Reasons

Amended Reason Date Amended

Updated to reflect the change in CSC date when an ITP has been issued.

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