WIPO - PCT Changes adopted

The 34th Assembly of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Union adopted amendments to the PCT Regulations.

The amendments, which entered into force on April 1, 2006, relate to changes to the exceptions to the all-inclusive designation system, the addition of Arabic as a publication language, the move towards full and exclusive electronic publication of all international applications, the publication of the PCT Gazette solely in electronic form and the publication of declarations under PCT Rule 4.17 as part of the international application.

Amendments which will enter into force in 2007 relate to missing elements and parts of the international application, restoration of the right of priority, rectification of obvious mistakes and the addition of patent documents from the Republic of Korea to the PCT minimum documentation.