MPEP § 1856 — MPEP § 1856
Current through: 2022-07-01

1856-Supplementary International Searches 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Skip over navigation 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 search for patents | search for trademarks 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Search 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 PATENTS 
 
 Patent Search 

 
 Patent Process 

 
 Patent Classification 

 
 Patent Forms 

 
 Statistics 

 
 Electronic Business Center 

 
 Patent Laws, Regulations, Policies & Procedures 

 
 Resources and Guidance 

 
 Office of Data Management 

 
 Announcements 

 
 Initiatives & Events 

 
 International Protection 

 
 Employee Locator 

 
 Contact Patents 

 

 

 
 TRADEMARKS 
 
 Trademark Search 

 
 Trademarks Process 

 
 News & Notices 

 
 Manuals, Guides, Official Gazette 

 
 Laws & Regulations 

 
 Online Filing 

 
 Contact Trademarks 

 

 

 
 IP LAW & POLICY 
 
 Rulemaking 

 
 IP Policy and Enforcement 

 
 Protecting IP Overseas 

 
 Training and Education 

 
 Training Programs & Conferences 

 
 Office of Governmental Affairs 

 
 Office of Chief Economist 

 
 Boards and Counsel 

 

 

 
 PRODUCTS & SERVICES 
 
 Electronic Data Products 

 
 XML Resources 

 
 XML Resources - Retrospective 

 
 USPTO Contact Center Order Form 

 
 Services 

 
 Locate Libraries 

 
 Training/Events 

 
 Online Services Hub 

 

 

 
 INVENTORS 
 
 Patents for Inventors 

 
 Trademarks for Inventors 

 
 Inventors Assistance 

 
 Education and Information 

 
 Scam Prevention 

 
 Pro Se and Pro Bono 

 
 Current Events 

 
 State Resources 

 
 InventorsEye Newsletter 

 

 

 
 NEWS & NOTICES 
 
 Subscription Center 

 
 Press Releases 

 
 Testimony and Speeches 

 
 Director's Forum 

 
 Systems Status 

 
 Emergency Notices 

 
 USPTO Videos 

 
 Official Gazette 

 
 Federal Register Notices 

 
 Event Calendar 

 

 

 
 FAQs 
 
 Patents FAQs 

 
 Trademarks FAQs 

 
 Assignments 

 
 Security 

 
 Musicians and Artists 

 
 Browser Plugins 

 
 Other Web Resources 

 

 

 
 ABOUT US 
 
 USPTO Leadership 

 
 USPTO Organization 

 
 USPTO Offices 

 
 Careers 

 
 Budget, Performance, and Planning 

 
 Statistics 

 
 Vendor Information 

 
 Public Advisory Committees 

 
 National Medal of Technology and Innovation 

 
 IP in Motion 

 
 Contact Us 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 Home Page 

 
 Patents 

 
 Patent Laws, Regulations, Policies & Procedures 

 
 Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 

 Chapter 1800 

 Section 1856 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 1856 Supplementary International Searches [R-10.2019]

 
 PCT Rule 45bis 

 Supplementary International
 Searches 

 
 45 bis .1 Supplementary Search
 Request
 

 
 (a) The applicant may, at any time prior to
 the expiration of 22 months from the priority date, request that a
 supplementary international search be carried out in respect of the
 international application by an International Searching Authority that
 is competent to do so under Rule
 45bis.9 . Such requests may be
 made in respect of more than one such Authority.
 

 (b) A request under paragraph (a)
 (“supplementary search request”) shall be submitted to the International
 Bureau and shall indicate:
 
 (i) the name and address of the
 applicant and of the agent (if any), the title of the invention,
 the international filing date and the international application
 number;
 

 
 
 (ii) the International Searching
 Authority that is requested to carry out the supplementary
 international search (“Authority specified for supplementary
 search”); and
 

 
 
 (iii) where the international application
 was filed in a language which is not accepted by that Authority,
 whether any translation furnished to the receiving Office under
 Rule 12.3 
 or 12.4 is to
 form the basis of the supplementary international search.
 

 
 

 (c) The supplementary search request shall,
 where applicable, be accompanied by:
 
 (i) where neither the language in
 which the international application was filed nor that in which
 a translation (if any) has been furnished under
 Rule 12.3 
 or 12.4 is
 accepted by the Authority specified for supplementary search, a
 translation of the international application into a language
 which is accepted by that Authority;
 

 
 
 (ii) preferably, a copy of a sequence
 listing in electronic form complying with the standard provided
 for in the Administrative Instructions, if required by the
 Authority specified for supplementary search.
 

 
 

 (d) Where the International Searching
 Authority has found that the international application does not comply
 with the requirement of unity of invention, the supplementary search
 request may contain an indication of the wish of the applicant to
 restrict the supplementary international search to one of the inventions
 as identified by the International Searching Authority other than the
 main invention referred to in Article
 17(3)(a) .
 

 (e) The supplementary search request shall be
 considered not to have been submitted, and the International Bureau
 shall so declare:
 
 (i) if it is received after the
 expiration of the time limit referred to in paragraph (a);
 or
 

 
 
 (ii) if the Authority specified for
 supplementary search has not stated, in the applicable agreement
 under Article
 16(3)(b) , its preparedness to carry out
 such searches or is not competent to do so under
 Rule
 45bis.9(b) .
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .2 Supplementary Search Handling
 Fee
 

 
 (a) The supplementary search request shall be
 subject to the payment of a fee for the benefit of the International
 Bureau (“supplementary search handling fee”) as set out in the Schedule
 of Fees.
 

 (b) The supplementary search handling fee shall
 be paid in the currency in which the fee is set out in the Schedule of
 Fees or in any other currency prescribed by the International Bureau.
 The amount in such other currency shall be the equivalent, in round
 figures, as established by the International Bureau, of the amount as
 set out in the Schedule of Fees, and shall be published in the
 Gazette.
 

 (c) The supplementary search handling fee shall
 be paid to the International Bureau within one month from the date of
 receipt of the supplementary search request. The amount payable shall be
 the amount applicable on the date of payment.
 

 (d) The International Bureau shall refund the
 supplementary search handling fee to the applicant if, before the
 documents referred to in Rule
 45bis.4(e)(i) to
 (iv) are
 transmitted to the Authority specified for supplementary search, the
 international application is withdrawn or considered withdrawn, or the
 supplementary search request is withdrawn or is considered not to have
 been submitted under Rule
 45bis.1(e) .
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .3 Supplementary Search Fee
 

 
 (a) Each International Searching Authority
 carrying out supplementary international searches may require that the
 applicant pay a fee (“supplementary search fee”) for its own benefit for
 carrying out such a search.
 

 (b) The supplementary search fee shall be
 collected by the International Bureau. Rules 16.1(b) to
 (e) shall apply mutatis
 mutandis .
 

 (c) As to the time limit for payment of the
 supplementary search fee and the amount payable, the provisions of
 Rule
 45bis.2(c) shall apply
 mutatis mutandis .
 

 (d) The International Bureau shall refund the
 supplementary search fee to the applicant if, before the documents
 referred to in Rule 45bis.4(e)(i)
 to (iv) are transmitted to the Authority
 specified for supplementary search, the international application is
 withdrawn or considered withdrawn, or the supplementary search request
 is withdrawn or is considered not to have been submitted under
 Rules
 45bis.1(e) or
 45bis.4(d) .
 

 (e) The Authority specified for supplementary
 search shall, to the extent and under the conditions provided for in the
 applicable agreement under Article 16(3)(b) ,
 refund the supplementary search fee if, before it has started the
 supplementary international search in accordance with Rule
 45bis.5(a) , the
 supplementary search request is considered not to have been submitted
 under Rule
 45bis.5(g) .
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .4 Checking of Supplementary Search
 Request; Correction of Defects; Late Payment of Fees; Transmittal to
 Authority Specified for Supplementary Search
 

 
 (a) Promptly after receipt of a supplementary
 search request, the International Bureau shall check whether it complies
 with the requirements of Rule 45bis.1(b) and
 (c)(i) and shall invite the applicant to correct
 any defects within a time limit of one month from the date of the
 invitation.
 

 (b) Where, by the time they are due under
 Rules
 45bis.2(c) and
 45bis.3(c) , the International
 Bureau finds that the supplementary search handling fee and the
 supplementary search fee have not been paid in full, it shall invite the
 applicant to pay to it the amount required to cover those fees, together
 with the late payment fee under paragraph (c), within a time limit of
 one month from the date of the invitation.
 

 (c) The payment of fees in response to an
 invitation under paragraph (b) shall be subject to the payment to the
 International Bureau, for its own benefit, of a late payment fee whose
 amount shall be 50% of the supplementary search handling fee.
 

 (d) If the applicant does not furnish the
 required correction or does not pay the amount in full of the fees due,
 including the late payment fee, before the expiration of the time limit
 applicable under paragraph (a) or (b), respectively, the supplementary
 search request shall be considered not to have been submitted and the
 International Bureau shall so declare and shall inform the applicant
 accordingly.
 

 (e) On finding that the requirements of
 Rule 45bis.1(b) and
 (c)(i) , 45bis.2(c) and
 45bis.3(c) have been complied
 with, the International Bureau shall promptly, but not before the date
 of receipt by it of the international search report or the expiration of
 17 months from the priority date, whichever occurs first, transmit to
 the Authority specified for supplementary search a copy of each of the
 following: 
 
 (i) the supplementary search
 request; 
 

 (ii) the international application;
 
 

 (iii) any sequence listing furnished
 under Rule
 45bis.1(c)(ii) ; and
 
 

 (iv) any translation furnished
 under Rule 12.3 ,
 12.4 or
 45bis.1(c)(i) which
 is to be used as the basis of the supplementary international
 search;
 

 
 
 

 

 and, at the same time, or promptly
 after their later receipt by the International Bureau:
 

 
 (v) the international search
 report and the written opinion established under
 Rule
 43bis.1 ; 
 

 (vi) any invitation by the
 International Searching Authority to pay additional fees
 referred to in Article
 17(3)(a) ; and 
 

 (vii) any protest by the applicant
 under Rule
 40.2(c) and the decision thereon by the
 review body constituted in the framework of the International
 Searching Authority. 
 

 
 

 (f) Upon request of the Authority specified
 for supplementary search, the written opinion referred to in paragraph
 (e)(v) shall, when not in English or in a language accepted by that
 Authority, be translated into English by or under the responsibility of
 the International Bureau. The International Bureau shall transmit a copy
 of the translation to that Authority within two months from the date of
 receipt of the request for translation, and shall at the same time
 transmit a copy to the applicant.
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .5 Start, Basis and Scope of
 Supplementary International Search
 

 
 (a) The Authority specified for supplementary
 search shall start the supplementary international search promptly after
 receipt of the documents specified in Rule
 45bis.4(e)(i) to (iv) ,
 provided that the Authority may, at its option, delay the start of the
 search until it has also received the documents specified in
 Rule
 45bis.4(e)(v) or until the
 expiration of 22 months from the priority date, whichever occurs
 first.
 

 (b) The supplementary international search
 shall be carried out on the basis of the international application as
 filed or of a translation referred to in Rule
 45bis.1(b)(iii) or
 45bis.1(c)(i) , taking due
 account of the international search report and the written opinion
 established under Rule 43.1 where
 they are available to the Authority specified for supplementary search
 before it starts the search. Where the supplementary search request
 contains an indication under Rule
 45bis.1(d) , the
 supplementary international search may be restricted to the invention
 specified by the applicant under Rule
 45bis.1(d) and those parts
 of the international application which relate to that invention.
 

 (c) For the purposes of the supplementary
 international search, Article 17(2) and
 Rules 13ter.1 ,
 33 and 39 shall apply
 mutatis mutandis. 

 (d) Where the international search report is
 available to the Authority specified for supplementary search before it
 starts the search under paragraph (a), that Authority may exclude from
 the supplementary search any claims which were not the subject of the
 international search.
 

 (e) Where the International Searching
 Authority has made the declaration referred to in Article
 17(2)(a) and that declaration is available to the
 Authority specified for supplementary search before it starts the search
 under paragraph (a), that Authority may decide not to establish a
 supplementary international search report, in which case it shall so
 declare and promptly notify the applicant and the International Bureau
 accordingly.
 

 (f) The supplementary international search
 shall cover at least the documentation indicated for that purpose in the
 applicable agreement under Article
 16(3)(b) .
 

 (g) If the Authority specified for
 supplementary search finds that carrying out the search is entirely
 excluded by a limitation or condition referred to in Rule
 45bis.9(a) , other than a
 limitation under Article 17(2) as
 applicable by virtue of Rule
 45bis.5(c) , the supplementary
 search request shall be considered not to have been submitted, and the
 Authority shall so declare and shall promptly notify the applicant and
 the International Bureau accordingly.
 

 (h) The Authority specified for supplementary
 search may, in accordance with a limitation or condition referred to in
 Rule
 45bis.9(a) , decide to restrict
 the search to certain claims only, in which case the supplementary
 international search report shall so indicate.
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .6 Unity of Invention
 

 
 (a) If the Authority specified for
 supplementary search finds that the international application does not
 comply with the requirement of unity of invention, it shall:
 
 (i) establish the supplementary
 international search report on those parts of the international
 application which relate to the invention first mentioned in the
 claims (“main invention”);
 

 
 
 (ii) notify the applicant of its
 opinion that the international application does not comply with
 the requirement of unity of invention and specify the reasons
 for that opinion; and
 

 
 
 (iii) inform the applicant of the
 possibility of requesting, within the time limit referred to in
 paragraph (c), a review of the opinion.
 

 
 

 (b) In considering whether the international
 application complies with the requirement of unity of invention, the
 Authority shall take due account of any documents received by it under
 Rule 45bis.4(e)(vi)
 and (vii) before it starts the supplementary
 international search.
 

 (c) The applicant may, within one month from
 the date of the notification under paragraph (a)(ii), request the
 Authority to review the opinion referred to in paragraph (a). The
 request for review may be subjected by the Authority to the payment to
 it, for its own benefit, of a review fee whose amount shall be fixed by
 it.
 

 (d) If the applicant, within the time limit
 under paragraph (c), requests a review of the opinion by the Authority
 and pays any required review fee, the opinion shall be reviewed by the
 Authority. The review shall not be carried out only by the person who
 made the decision which is the subject of the review. Where the
 Authority:
 
 (i) finds that the opinion was
 entirely justified, it shall notify the applicant
 accordingly;
 

 
 
 (ii) finds that the opinion was
 partially unjustified but still considers that the international
 application does not comply with the requirement of unity of
 invention, it shall notify the applicant accordingly and, where
 necessary, proceed as provided for in paragraph (a)(i);
 

 
 
 (iii) finds that the opinion was
 entirely unjustified, it shall notify the applicant accordingly,
 establish the supplementary international search report on all
 parts of the international application and refund the review fee
 to the applicant.
 

 
 

 (e) On the request of the applicant, the text
 of both the request for review and the decision thereon shall be
 communicated to the designated Offices together with the supplementary
 international search report. The applicant shall submit any translation
 thereof with the furnishing of the translation of the international
 application required under Article 22 .
 

 (f) Paragraphs (a) to (e) shall apply
 mutatis mutandis where the Authority specified
 for supplementary search decides to restrict the supplementary
 international search in accordance with the second sentence of
 Rule
 45bis.5(b) or with
 Rule
 45bis.5(h) , provided that any
 reference in the said paragraphs to the “international application”
 shall be construed as a reference to those parts of the international
 application which relate to the invention specified by the applicant
 under Rule
 45bis.1(d) or which relate to
 the claims and those parts of the international application for which
 the Authority will carry out a supplementary international search,
 respectively.
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .7 Supplementary International Search
 Report
 

 
 (a) The Authority specified for supplementary
 search shall, within 28 months from the priority date, establish the
 supplementary international search report, or make the declaration
 referred to in Article 17(2)(a) as
 applicable by virtue of Rule
 45bis.5(c) that no
 supplementary international search report will be established.
 

 (b) Every supplementary international search
 report, any declaration referred to in Article
 17(2)(a) as applicable by virtue of
 Rule
 45bis.5(c) and any declaration
 under Rule
 45bis.5(e) shall be in a
 language of publication.
 

 (c) For the purposes of establishing the
 supplementary international search report, Rules
 43.1 , 43.2 ,
 43.5 , 43.6 ,
 43.6bis ,
 43.8 and 43.10 shall,
 subject to paragraphs (d) and (e), apply mutatis
 mutandis . Rule 43.9 shall
 apply mutatis mutandis , except that the references
 therein to Rules 43.3 ,
 43.7 and 44.2 shall be
 considered non-existent. Article 20(3) and
 Rule 44.3 shall apply mutatis
 mutandis .
 

 (d) The supplementary international search
 report need not contain the citation of any document cited in the
 international search report, except where the document needs to be cited
 in conjunction with other documents that were not cited in the
 international search report.
 

 (e) The supplementary international search
 report may contain explanations:
 
 (i) with regard to the citations of
 the documents considered to be relevant;
 

 
 
 (ii) with regard to the scope of the
 supplementary international search.
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .8 Transmittal and Effect of the
 Supplementary International Search Report
 

 
 (a) The Authority specified for supplementary
 search shall, on the same day, transmit one copy of the supplementary
 international search report or the declaration that no supplementary
 international search report shall be established, as applicable, to the
 International Bureau and one copy to the applicant.
 

 (b) Subject to paragraph (c),
 Article 20(1) and Rules
 45.1 , 47.1(d) and
 70.7(a) shall apply as if the supplementary
 international search report were part of the international search
 report.
 

 (c) A supplementary international search report
 need not be taken into account by the International Preliminary
 Examining Authority for the purposes of a written opinion or the
 international preliminary examination report if it is received by that
 Authority after it has begun to draw up that opinion or report.
 

 
 

 

 
 45 bis .9 International Searching Authorities
 Competent to Carry Out Supplementary International Search
 

 
 (a) An International Searching Authority shall
 be competent to carry out supplementary international searches if its
 preparedness to do so is stated in the applicable agreement under
 Article 16(3)(b) , subject to any limitations and
 conditions set out in that agreement.
 

 (b) The International Searching Authority
 carrying out the international search under Article
 16(1) in respect of an international application
 shall not be competent to carry out a supplementary international search
 in respect of that application.
 

 (c) The limitations referred to in paragraph
 (a) may, for example, include limitations as to the subject matter for
 which supplementary international searches will be carried out, other
 than limitations under Article 17(2) as
 applicable by virtue of Rule
 45bis.5(c) , limitations as to
 the total number of supplementary international searches which will be
 carried out in a given period, and limitations to the effect that the
 supplementary international searches will not extend to any claim beyond
 a certain number of claims.
 

 
 

 

 The supplementary international search (SIS) is an
 optional service that allows additional searches to be performed by a Supplementary
 International Searching Authority (SISA) during the international phase, in addition to
 the search performed by the main International Searching Authority (ISA). Requesting
 supplementary international search reduces the risk of new prior art being cited in the
 national phase. The increasing diversity of prior art in different languages and
 different technical fields means that the Authority carrying out the main international
 search is not always capable of discovering all of the relevant prior art. Requesting
 one or more supplementary international searches, during this early phase of the patent
 prosecution, expands both the linguistic and technical scope of the search. In addition,
 it may also be possible to have the supplementary search carried out in a State where an
 applicant is likely to enter the national phase later on.
 

 Only an ISA that has stated its preparedness to carry out
 supplementary international searches (see the Annex SISA of the Applicant’s Guide at
 www.wipo.int/pct/en/appguide/index.jsp ) and which is not the ISA
 that carried out the main international search, can be requested to carry out a SIS. The
 Authorities prepared to offer supplementary international searches may specify any
 limitations and conditions on this service in their agreement with the IB (see
 www.wipo.int/pct/en/access/ isa_ipea_agreements.html ). These
 limitations may include limitations as to the subject matter for which supplementary
 searches will be carried out, beyond those limitations that can be evoked in respect of
 the main international search, and limitations as to the total number of supplementary
 international searches which will be carried out in a given period.
 

 The SIS will be carried out on the application as filed
 (amendments under PCT
 Article 19 and/or 34 will not be considered) and will
 only cover one invention or group of inventions having unity of invention – there is no
 option for paying additional fees for the searching of multiple inventions. However, if
 the main ISA has identified a lack of unity before SIS is requested, the latter can be
 requested to concentrate on an invention which is not necessarily the first one claimed
 ( PCT
 Rule 45bis.1(d) ). If not established in
 English, the resulting supplementary international search report will be translated into
 English by the IB.
 

 In many cases, requests for supplementary search will be
 filed once the applicant has received the main international search report. In any
 event, the applicant must file a request for a SIS prior to the expiration of 22 months
 from the priority date. If the request is received after the expiration of this time
 limit, it will be considered not to have been submitted and there are no provisions to
 extend this time limit. The requests for SIS must be submitted directly to the IB and
 not to an individual SISA. There is a supplementary search handling fee to cover the
 costs of the IB and a supplementary search fee set by each SISA. These fees must be paid
 to the IB in Swiss francs within one month of filing the request for SIS. Applicants
 from certain States may be eligible for a 90% reduction in the supplementary search
 handling fee.
 

 [top] 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 1801-Basic Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Principles 

 1802-PCT Definitions 

 1803-Reservations Under the PCT Taken by, and Notifications of Incompatibility Made by, the United States of America 

 1804-[Reserved] 

 1805-Where To File an International Application 

 1806-Applicants and Inventors 

 1807-Agent or Common Representative and General Power of Attorney 

 1808-Change in or Revocation of the Appointment of an Agent or a Common Representative 

 1809-Access to the USPTO patent electronic filing system 

 1810-Filing Date Requirements 

 1811-[Reserved] 

 1812-Elements of the International Application 

 1813 - 1816-[Reserved] 

 1817-PCT Member States 

 1818-[Reserved] 

 1819-Earlier Search 

 1820-Signature of Applicant 

 1821-The Request 

 1822-[Reserved] 

 1823-The Description 
 1823.01-Reference to Deposited Biological Material 

 1823.02-Filing Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Listings in International Applications 

 
 

 1824-The Claims 

 1825-The Drawings 

 1826-The Abstract 

 1827-Fees 
 1827.01-Refund of International Application Fees 

 
 

 1828-Priority Claim and Document 
 1828.01-Restoration of the Right of Priority 

 1828.02-Continuation or Continuation-in-Part Indication in the Request 

 
 

 1829-[Reserved] 

 1830-International Application Transmittal Letter 

 1831-[Reserved] 

 1832-License Request for Foreign Filing Under the PCT 

 1833-[Reserved] 

 1834-Correspondence 
 1834.01-Filing of Correspondence by Facsimile 

 1834.02-Irregularities in the Mail or Electronic Communications Service 

 
 

 1835-[Reserved] 

 1836-Rectification of Obvious Mistakes 

 1837 - 1839-[Reserved] 

 1840-The International Searching Authority 
 1840.01-The European Patent Office as an International Searching Authority 

 1840.02-The Korean Intellectual Property Office as an International Searching Authority 

 1840.03-The Australian Patent Office (IP Australia) as an International Searching Authority 

 1840.04-[Reserved] 

 1840.05-The Israel Patent Office (ILPO) as an International Searching Authority 

 1840.06-The Japan Patent Office (JPO) as an International Searching Authority 

 1840.07-The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as an International Searching Authority 

 
 

 1841-[Reserved] 

 1842-Basic Flow Under the PCT 

 1843-The International Search 
 1843.01-Prior Art for Chapter I Processing 

 1843.02-Certain Subject Matter Need Not Be Searched 

 1843.03-No Search Required if Claims Are Unclear 

 1843.04-Procedure for Claims Not Required To Be Searched and for Claims That Are Unclear 

 1843.05-Time Limit for Establishing the International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority 

 
 

 1844-The International Search Report 
 1844.01-Preparing the International Search Report (Form PCT/ISA/210) 

 
 

 1845-Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority 
 1845.01-Preparing the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority (Form PCT/ISA/237) 

 1845.02-Notification of Transmittal of the International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority,
 or the Declaration (Form PCT/ISA/220) 

 
 

 1846 - 1847-[Reserved] 

 1848-Sequence Listings 

 1849-[Reserved] 

 1850-Unity of Invention Before the International Searching Authority 

 1851-Identification of Patent Documents 

 1852-Taking Into Account Results of Earlier Search(es) 

 1853-Amendment Under PCT Article 19 

 1854 - 1855-[Reserved] 

 1856-Supplementary International Searches 

 1857-International Publication 

 1858-[Reserved] 

 1859-Withdrawal of International Application, Designations, or Priority Claims 

 1860-International Preliminary Examination Procedure 

 1861-[Reserved] 

 1862-Agreement With the International Bureau To Serve as an International Preliminary Examining Authority 

 1863-[Reserved] 

 1864-The Demand and Preparation for Filing of Demand 
 1864.01-Amendments Filed Under PCT Article 34 

 1864.02-Applicant’s Right To File a Demand 

 1864.03-States Which May Be Elected 

 1864.04-Agent’s Right To Act 

 
 

 1865-Filing of Demand 

 1866-[Reserved] 

 1867-Preliminary Examination Fees 

 1868-Correction of Defects in the Demand 

 1869-Notification to International Bureau of Demand 

 1870-Priority Document and Translation Thereof 

 1871-Processing Amendments Filed Under Article 19 and Article 34 Prior to or at the Start of International Preliminary Examination 

 1872-Availability of the International Application File for International Preliminary Examination by the Examining Corps 

 1873-[Reserved] 

 1874-Determination if International Preliminary Examination Is Required and Possible 

 1875-Unity of Invention Before the International Preliminary Examining Authority 
 1875.01-Preparation of Invitation Concerning Unity 

 1875.02-Reply to Invitation Concerning Lack of Unity of Invention 

 
 

 1876-Notation of Errors and Informalities by the Examiner 
 1876.01-Request for Rectification and Notification of Action Thereon 

 
 

 1877-Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Listings During the International Preliminary Examination 

 1878-Preparation of the Written Opinion of the International Preliminary Examining Authority 
 1878.01-Includes Subsections Regarding Prior Art, Novelty, Inventive Step, and Industrial Applicability for Purposes of the Written
 Opinion and the International Preliminary Examination Report 
 1878.01(a)-Prior Art for Purposes of the Written Opinion and the International Preliminary Examination Report 
 1878.01(a)(1)-Novelty for Purposes of the Written Opinion and the International Preliminary Examination Report 

 1878.01(a)(2)-Inventive Step for Purposes of the Written Opinion and the International Preliminary Examination Report 

 1878.01(a)(3)-Industrial Applicability for Purposes of the Written Opinion and the International Preliminary Examination Report 

 
 

 
 

 1878.02-Reply to the Written Opinion of the ISA or IPEA 

 
 

 1879-Preparation of the International Preliminary Examination Report 
 1879.01-Time Limit for Preparing Report 

 1879.02-Transmittal of the International Preliminary Examination Report and Related Documents 

 1879.03-Translations 

 1879.04-Confidential Nature of the Report 

 
 

 1880-Withdrawal of Demand or Election 

 1881-Receipt of Notice of Election and Preliminary Examination Report by the United States Patent and Trademark Office 

 1882 - 1892-[Reserved] 

 1893-National Stage (U.S. National Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 371) 
 1893.01-Commencement and Entry 
 1893.01(a)-Entry via the U.S. Designated or Elected Office 
 1893.01(a)(1)-Submissions Required by 30 Months from the Priority Date 

 1893.01(a)(2)-Article 19 Amendment (Filed With the International Bureau) 

 1893.01(a)(3)-Article 34 Amendments (Filed with the International Preliminary Examining Authority) 

 1893.01(a)(4)-Claim Amendment (Filed With the U.S. Designated or Elected Office) 

 
 

 1893.01(b)-Applicant for a U.S. National Stage Application 

 1893.01(c)-Fees 

 1893.01(d)-Translation 

 1893.01(e)-Inventor’s Oath or Declaration 

 
 

 1893.02-Abandonment 

 1893.03-Prosecution of U.S. National Stage Applications Before the Examiner 
 1893.03(a)-How To Identify That an Application Is a U.S. National Stage Application 

 1893.03(b)-The Filing Date of a U.S. National Stage Application 

 1893.03(c)-The Priority Date, Priority Claim, and Priority Papers for a U.S. National Stage Application 

 1893.03(d)-Unity of Invention 

 1893.03(e)-Documents Received from the International Bureau and Placed in a U.S. National Stage Application File 
 1893.03(e)(1)-Title of the Invention 

 
 

 1893.03(f)-Drawings and PCT Rule 11 

 1893.03(g)-Information Disclosure Statement in a National Stage Application 

 
 

 
 

 1894-[Reserved] 

 1895-A Continuation, Divisional, or Continuation- in- Part Application of a PCT Application Designating the United States 
 1895.01-Handling of and Considerations in the Handling of Continuations, Divisions, and Continuations-In-Part of PCT Applications 

 
 

 1896-The Differences Between a National Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and a National Stage Application Submitted Under
 35 U.S.C. 371 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 Accessibility 

 Privacy Policy 

 Terms of Use 

 Security 

 Emergencies/Security Alerts 

 Information Quality Guidelines 

 
 

 
 
 Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act 

 Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation (NoFEAR) Act 

 Budget & Performance 

 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

 
 

 
 
 Department of Commerce NoFEAR Act Report 

 Regulations.gov 

 STOP!Fakes.gov 

 Department of Commerce 

 USA.gov 

 
 

 
 
 Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) 

 Careers 

 Site Index 

 Contact Us 

 Submit Feedback 

 
 

 
 This page is owned by Patents.

 Last Modified: 
 
 03/09/2026 20:49:29