Administrative Instructions under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

Section 108
Correspondence Intended for the Applicant

(a)  For the purpose of this Section, where there are two or more agents whose appointments are in force, "first mentioned agent" means the agent first mentioned in the document containing the appointments or, where the appointments are contained in two or more documents, in that which was filed first.

(b)  Where a sole applicant has appointed an agent or agents under Rule 90.1(a), correspondence intended for the applicant from the International Authorities shall, subject to paragraph (d), be addressed to the agent or, where applicable, to the first mentioned agent.

(c)  Where there are two or more applicants, correspondence intended for the applicants from the International Authorities shall, subject to paragraph (d), be addressed:

(i) if no common agent has been appointed under Rule 90.1 – to the common representative or, where applicable, to his agent or first mentioned agent; or

(ii) if the applicants have appointed a common agent or common agents under Rule 90.1(a) – to that common agent or, where applicable, to the first mentioned common agent.

(d)  Where an agent has or agents have been appointed under Rule 90.1(b), (c) or (d)(ii), paragraphs (b) and (c) shall apply to correspondence intended for the applicant relating to the procedure before the International Searching Authority or the International Preliminary Examining Authority, as the case may be, as if those paragraphs referred to the agent or agents so appointed.

(e)  Where, in accordance with paragraph (c), correspondence intended for the applicants from the International Authorities is to be addressed to the common representative but the indication required under Rule 4.5(a)(ii) has not been provided for the common representative, correspondence shall be addressed:

(i) to the first applicant named in the request who is entitled according to Rule 19.1 to file an international application with the receiving Office and in respect of whom the indication required under Rule 4.5(a)(ii) has been provided; or, if there is no such applicant,

(ii) to the applicant first named in the request who is entitled according to Article 9 to file an international application and in respect of whom the indication required under Rule 4.5(a)(ii) has been provided; or, if there is no such applicant,

(iii) to the applicant first named in the request in respect of whom the indication required under Rule 4.5(a)(ii) has been provided.