The 13th session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Working Group on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) has now concluded its work in Geneva.
The event took place from 5 to 8 October and was held in a hybrid format for the first time. Mr. Daren Tang, who officially assumed his functions as WIPO Director General on October 1, opened the session.
Representatives of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) and Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) gave statements not only on behalf of the Russian Federation but also of the Regional Group of Central Asian, Caucasus and Eastern European Countries (CACEEC).
The Working Group session comprised a meeting of the PCT Technical Cooperation Committee, which participants unanimously agreed to recommend to the PCT Union Assembly that the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) be appointed as an International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority under the PCT.
The Regional Group supported the EAPO appointment and noted that it will promote the use of the international patent system and the development of innovation processes in the region.
The following issues were discussed during the session:
Implementation of WIPO Standard ST.26 in the PCT
Strengthening PCT Safeguards in Case of General Disruption
Review of the Supplementary International Search System
PCT Minimum Documentation: Status Report
Coordination of Patent Examiner Training
Coordination of Technical Assistance Under the PCT
One of the major achievements of the meeting was the approval of the proposed amendments to the Regulations under PCT concerning WIPO Standard ST.26. The Standard requires applicants to prepare lists of amino acid and nucleotide sequences using the XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format for inclusion in a national or international patent application. Amendments will be submitted to the Assembly for consideration at its next session in the first half of 2021. The Standard ST.26 will enter into force on 1 January 2022.
Background information:
The PCT assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions, helps patent offices with their patent granting decisions, and facilitates public access to a wealth of technical information relating to those inventions.
By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in a large number of countries.
