pct-application

PCT Application Skill

Preparation and validation of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international applications under PCT Rules 5-12.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when users ask to:

• Prepare a PCT international application
• Check PCT formalities compliance
• Assess unity of invention under Rule 13 PCT
• Plan national/regional phase entry strategy
• Calculate PCT fees and deadlines
• Convert a national application to PCT format
• Understand PCT procedure and timelines

What This Skill Does

Provides comprehensive PCT application support:

1. Application Preparation (Rules 3-12 PCT):
2. Request form (PCT/RO/101) guidance
3. Description format (Rule 5 PCT)
4. Claims structure (Rule 6 PCT)
5. Abstract requirements (Rule 8 PCT)
6. Drawings standards (Rule 11 PCT)
7. Physical requirements (Rule 11 PCT)
8. Sequence listings (Rule 12 PCT, WIPO Standard ST.26)

1. Unity of Invention (Rule 13 PCT):
2. Single general inventive concept assessment
3. Special technical feature identification
4. Linking technical feature analysis
5. Unity objection risk assessment
6. Claim grouping strategy

1. Formalities Validation (Rules 3-12 PCT):
2. All formal requirements checking
3. Fee calculation per Receiving Office
4. Language requirements per RO
5. Physical document requirements

1. National Phase Strategy:
2. 30/31 month deadline tracking
3. Country selection guidance
4. Translation requirements per country
5. National phase fee estimates
6. Strategic filing considerations

Required Data

MCP Tools Available:

• check_pct_formalities - PCT Rules 5-12 formalities checking
• search_patent_law - Search PCT rules, regulations, administrative instructions
• search_patents_bigquery - Prior art search for unity assessment

How to Use

When this skill is invoked:

1. Determine user's stage:
2. New PCT filing from scratch
3. Converting national application to PCT
4. Reviewing existing PCT draft
5. Planning national phase entry

1. For new applications, guide through:
2. Invention disclosure review
3. Unity of invention assessment
4. Description drafting (Rule 5 format)
5. Claims structuring (Rule 6 format)
6. Abstract preparation (Rule 8)
7. Formalities checklist

1. For review, analyze:
2. All Rule 5-12 requirements
3. Unity of invention
4. Generate compliance report
5. Suggest fixes

PCT Application Structure

Request (Rule 4 PCT)

Form PCT/RO/101 requires:

• Applicant details (name, address, nationality, residence)
• Title of invention
• Priority claim(s) (if any, within 12 months)
• Designation of states (automatic for all since 2004)
• Choice of International Searching Authority (ISA)
• Agent/representative details

Description (Rule 5 PCT)

Required sections in order:

1. Title of the Invention
2. Technical Field
3. Background Art
4. Disclosure of the Invention
   - Technical problem
   - Technical solution
   - Advantageous effects
5. Brief Description of Drawings
6. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
7. Industrial Applicability
8. Sequence Listing (if applicable)

Claims (Rule 6 PCT)

Structure requirements:

• Numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals
• Independent claims: define essential features of the invention
• Dependent claims: refer back and further limit
• Clear, concise, fully supported by description
• Multiple claim categories allowed (product, process, apparatus, use)
• Unity of invention required (Rule 13)

Abstract (Rule 8 PCT)

• Maximum 150 words
• Indicate technical field
• Clear summary of technical problem, solution, and principal use
• Designate most illustrative figure
• Not used for interpreting claim scope

Drawings (Rule 11 PCT)

• A4 paper (29.7cm x 21cm)
• Usable area: 26.2cm x 17cm
• Margins: top 2.5cm, left 2.5cm, right 1.5cm, bottom 1cm
• Black, dense, well-defined lines
• No text except single words
• Reference signs matching description

Unity of Invention (Rule 13 PCT)

Assessment Framework

Unity requires claims to relate to one invention only or a group of inventions linked to form a single general inventive concept.

Test: Do all claims share a special technical feature that:

1. Makes a contribution over the prior art, AND
2. Is present in all independent claims (or links them)

Common Unity Patterns

Unity Maintained:

• Product + process for making product
• Product + use of product
• Process + apparatus specifically designed for process
• Product + process + apparatus (all sharing special technical feature)

Unity at Risk:

• Multiple independent claims without shared special technical feature
• Markush groups without common structural feature
• Method and apparatus addressing different problems

Unity Strategy

Independent Claim 1 (System): A system comprising feature X...
Independent Claim 8 (Method): A method using feature X...
Independent Claim 15 (Use): Use of feature X for...

Special Technical Feature: "feature X" - shared across all groups
Unity: MAINTAINED (single general inventive concept linked by X)

PCT Timeline

Month 0:  File PCT application at Receiving Office (RO)
Month 3:  International search begins (ISA)
Month 16: International Search Report (ISR) issued
Month 18: International publication (WIPO)
Month 22: Demand for preliminary examination (optional, Chapter II)
Month 28: International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER)
Month 30: National/regional phase entry deadline (most countries)
Month 31: National phase deadline (some countries: US, JP, etc.)

Fee Calculation

Base Fees (2025 estimates)

| Fee | Amount | Notes | |-----|--------|-------| | Transmittal fee | Varies by RO | RO/US: USD 280 | | International filing fee | CHF 1,330 | Electronic reduction: -CHF 200 | | Search fee | Varies by ISA | ISA/EP: EUR 1,775; ISA/US: USD 2,680 | | Additional page fee | CHF 16/page | Beyond 30 pages | | Additional claim fee | Varies | Beyond limits set by ISA |

Electronic Filing Reduction

Filing via ePCT: CHF 200 reduction on international filing fee

National Phase Fees (Estimates)

| Country | Entry Fee | Notes | |---------|-----------|-------| | US (371) | ~USD 1,600 | Basic filing + search + examination | | EP (Euro-PCT) | ~EUR 2,595 | Filing + search + designation | | JP | ~JPY 195,000 | National fee + translation | | CN | ~CNY 3,500 | National fee + translation | | KR | ~KRW 460,000 | National fee + translation |

National Phase Strategy

Key Decisions

1. Which countries? - Based on markets, competitors, manufacturing
2. Which ISA? - Affects search quality, cost, language
3. Chapter II? - Optional preliminary examination for stronger report
4. Early national phase? - Some countries allow before 30 months
5. Translation strategy - Cost and timing considerations

Common Filing Strategies

Broad Coverage:

• US + EP + CN + JP + KR (covers ~85% of global patent value)

Cost-Conscious:

• US + EP only (defer others until commercial validation)

Technology-Specific:

• Pharma: US + EP + JP + CN + IN + BR
• Software: US + EP + JP + KR
• Manufacturing: US + EP + CN + DE + JP

Compliance Report Format

PCT APPLICATION COMPLIANCE REPORT
====================================

Application: [Title]
Receiving Office: RO/[XX]
ISA Selected: ISA/[XX]

DESCRIPTION (Rule 5 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Title present
[PASS/FAIL] Technical field
[PASS/FAIL] Background art
[PASS/FAIL] Invention disclosure
[PASS/FAIL] Brief description of drawings
[PASS/FAIL] Best mode
[PASS/FAIL] Industrial applicability

CLAIMS (Rule 6 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Consecutively numbered
[PASS/FAIL] Supported by description
[PASS/FAIL] Clear and concise

UNITY OF INVENTION (Rule 13 PCT):
[PASS/WARN/FAIL] Single general inventive concept
Special technical feature: [identified feature]
Risk of unity objection: LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH

ABSTRACT (Rule 8 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Word count within 150
[PASS/FAIL] Fig