Go to MPEP - Table of Contents
1817.01 Designation of States in International Applications Having an International Filing Date On or After January 1, 2004 [R-5] - 1800 Patent Cooperation Treaty
1817.01 Designation of States in International Applications Having an International Filing Date On or After January 1, 2004 [R-5]
[Note: The regulations under the PCT were changed effective January 1, 2004. A corresponding change was made to Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations. See January 2004 Revision of Patent Cooperation Treaty Application Procedure, 68 FR 59881 (Oct. 20, 2003), 1276 O.G. 6 (Nov. 11, 2003). All international applications having an international filing date before January 1, 2004, will continue to be processed under the procedures in effect on the international filing date. For the designation of states in international applications having an international filing date before January 1, 2004, see MPEP § 1817.01(a) for the information that previously appeared in this section].
>PCT RULE 4
The Request (Contents)*****
PCT RULE 4.9.
Designation of States; Kinds of Protection; National and Regional Patents(a) The filing of a request shall constitute:
(i) the designation of all Contracting States that are bound by the Treaty on the international filing date;
(ii) an indication that the international application is, in respect of each designated State to which Article 43 or 44 applies, for the grant of every kind of protection which is available by way of the designation of that State:
(iii) an indication that the international application is, in respect of each designated State to which Article 45(1) applies, for the grant of a regional patent and also, unless Article 45(2) applies, a national patent.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(i), if, on October 5, 2005, the national law of a Contracting State provides that the filing of an international application which contains the designation of that State and claims the priority of an earlier national application having effect in that State shall have the result that the earlier national application ceases to have effect with the same consequences as the withdrawal of the earlier national application, any request in which the priority of an earlier national application filed in that State is claimed may contain an indication that the designation of that State is not made, provided that the designated Office notifies the International Bureau by January 5, 2006, that this paragraph shall apply in respect of designations of that State and that the notification is still in force on the international filing date. The information received shall be promptly published by the International Bureau in the Gazette.
(c) [Deleted]<
37 CFR 1.432 Designation of States by filing an international application.
The filing of an international application request shall constitute:
(a) The designation of all Contracting States that are bound by the Treaty on the international filing date;
(b) An indication that the international application is, in respect of each designated State to which PCT Article 43 or 44 applies, for the grant of every kind of protection which is available by way of the designation of that State; and
(c) An indication that the international application is, in respect of each designated State to which PCT Article 45(1) applies, for the grant of a regional patent and also, unless PCT Article 45(2) applies, a national patent.
For international applications having an international filing date on or after January 1, 2004, the filing of an international application request constitutes: (A) the designation of all Contracting States that are bound by the Treaty on the international filing date; (B) an indication that the international application is, in respect of each designated State to which PCT Article 43 or 44 applies, for the grant of every kind of protection which is available by way of the designation of that State; and (C) an indication that the international application is, in respect of each designated State to which PCT Article 45(1) applies, for the grant of a regional patent and also, unless PCT Article 45(2) applies, a national patent. See 37 CFR 1.432 and PCT Rule 4.9. This automatic indication of all designations and all types of protection possible overcomes a pitfall in the designation system in effect for applications having an international filing prior to January 1, 2004, where applicants inadvertently omitted a designation or type of protection and failed to timely satisfy the requirements under former PCT Rule 4.9(b) to perfect a precautionary designation.
>Pursuant to PCT Rule 4.9(b), certain States may be excepted from the all-inclusive designation system under limited circumstances. Specifically, where the international application contains a priority claim to an earlier national application having effect in a State whose national law provides that the designation of such State has the result that the earlier national application ceases to have effect in such State, then the request may contain an indication that such State is not designated. Applicability of PCT Rule 4.9(b) is contingent upon timely notice by the affected Office to the International Bureau. As of April 1, 2006, the request may exclude the following designations: Germany (DE), Japan (JP), Republic of Korea (KR), and Russian Federation (RU). See "Reservations and Incompatibilities" at http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/applicants.html for further information.<
APPLICANT FOR PURPOSES OF EACH DESIGNATION
Where there is but a single applicant, the right to file an international application and to designate Contracting States or regions exists if the applicant is a resident or national of a PCT Contracting State. The applicant can be an individual, corporate entity or other concern. In the case where there are several applicants who are different for different designated states, the right to file an international application and to designate Contracting States or regions exists if at least one of them is a resident or national of a Contracting State. If entry into the U.S. national phase is desired, inventors must be indicated as applicants at least for purposes of the United States.
Go to MPEP - Table of Contents