Patent Cooperation Treaty – Summary

Available since July 2012, the third party observations service allows third parties to submit prior art observations relevant to novelty and inventive step. The submission of observations is a web-based system using ePCT or web-forms in PATENTSCOPE. Third party observations are free-of-charge. Submissions are possible until the expiration of 28 months from the priority date. Applicants may submit comments in response until the expiration of 30 months from the priority date. Anonymous submissions of third party observations are possible. Third-party supplied documents will not be available via PATENTSCOPE but will be made available to International Authorities and national Offices.