PCT News Summary - Oct 2021

Future PCT Amendments - PCT/A/53:

• 01 Jul 22 => Rules 5, 12, 13ter, 19 and 49 to be amended. WIPO Standard ST.26 “Recommended Standard for Presentation of [...] Sequence Listings using XML” to be implemented for any PCT application with an international filing date on or after 1 Jul 22. See PCT/WG/13/8 and paragraphs 4 and 5 of PCT/WG/13/14.
• See also WIPO Sequence page with more details and software for preparation and validation. See also FAQ: Implementation of ST.26.
• 01 Jul 22 => Rule 82quater to be amended. Safeguards for applicants and third parties in case of general disruption that affect meeting time limits under PCT Regulations to be strengthened. See PCT/WG/14/11 and paragraphs 8 to 14 of PCT/WG/14/18. For any time limit that expires on or after 1 Jul 22. 

WIPO Pay - new payment system:

• 14 Jun 21 => allows one or more payments to be made at once for PCT, eHague, WIPO PROOF and UPOV cases. It is secure and encrypted, and payments are processed quickly and confirmed by e-mail. See also further info on payment methods at WIPO.

WIPO Fee Transfer Service - PCT/WG/12/20:

• 01 Jul 20 => any RO, ISA, SISA or IPEA may participate to facilitate exchange of fees between office via IB. Eventually, this will allow applicants more choices of ISA. For participating offices, see the PCT Official Notices.

New webinar recordings - available in several languages:

• Sep 21 => WIPO Standard ST.26: Introduction (Rus)
• Sep 21 => eHandshakes-Access Rights-eOwnership (Eng)
• Sep 21 => How to best utilize declarations (Chin / Port / Span)
• Sep 21 => Mastering priority claims in PCT applications (Eng)
• Sep 21 => Understanding PCT incorporation by reference (Port)
• Oct 21 => ePCT-Filing in Docx (Eng)

Miscellaneous WIPO:

• PATENTSCOPE now allows Markush structures/definitions to be searched
• WIPO GREEN database, with  solutions-oriented innovations, has been fully rebuilt
• 2021 edition of Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks 132 economies, and is now available. See also the Press Release PR/2021/880 for a summary.
• 09 Nov 21 => WIPO IP Diagnostics will launch by webinar to help small businesses self-assess their IP assets and determine how to protect these assets. 
• Upcoming seminars and webinars are found in PCT Seminar & Webinar Calendars.
• Latest PCT fees are found in PCT Fee Table

Miscellaneous Offices:

• 01 Oct 21 => EP (European Patent Office) has introduced a daily limit of EUR 10000 per user account for credit card payments. See OJEPO 2021, A73.
• EA (Eurasian Patent Office) to operate as ISA and IPEA. See PCT/A/53/1. Starting date is not yet known.

Sources: most of these topics are found in PCT Newsletter Oct (#10) 2021. Every month, WIPO publishes a PCT Newsletter with important updates and practical advice. It is possible to subscribe to one or more Newsletters.