Regulations under the PCT

Rule 44bis
International Preliminary Report on Patentability by the International Searching Authority

44bis.1       Issuance of Report; Transmittal to the Applicant

(a)  Unless an international preliminary examination report has been or is to be established, the International Bureau shall issue a report on behalf of the International Searching Authority (in this Rule referred to as “the report”) as to the matters referred to in Rule 43bis.1(a). The report shall have the same contents as the written opinion established under Rule 43bis.1.

(b)  The report shall bear the title “international preliminary report on patentability (Chapter I of the Patent Cooperation Treaty)” together with an indication that it is issued under this Rule by the International Bureau on behalf of the International Searching Authority.

(c)  The International Bureau shall promptly transmit one copy of the report issued under paragraph (a) to the applicant.

44bis.2       Communication to Designated Offices

(a)  Where a report has been issued under Rule 44bis.1, the International Bureau shall communicate it to each designated Office in accordance with Rule 93bis.1 but not before the expiration of 30 months from the priority date.

(b)  Where the applicant makes an express request to a designated Office under Article 23(2), the International Bureau shall communicate a copy of the written opinion established by the International Searching Authority under Rule 43bis.1 to that Office promptly upon the request of that Office or of the applicant.

44bis.3       Translation for Designated Offices

(a)  Any designated State may, where a report has been issued under Rule 44bis.1 in a language other than the official language, or one of the official languages, of its national Office, require a translation of the report into English. Any such requirement shall be notified to the International Bureau, which shall promptly publish it in the Gazette.

(b)  If a translation is required under paragraph (a), it shall be prepared by or under the responsibility of the International Bureau.

(c)  The International Bureau shall transmit a copy of the translation to any interested designated Office and to the applicant at the same time as it communicates the report to that Office.

(d)  In the case referred to in Rule 44bis.2(b), the written opinion established under Rule 43bis.1 shall, upon request of the designated Office concerned, be translated into English by or under the responsibility of the International Bureau. The International Bureau shall transmit a copy of the translation to the designated Office concerned within two months from the date of receipt of the request for translation, and shall at the same time transmit a copy to the applicant.

44bis.4       Observations on the Translation

The applicant may make written observations as to the correctness of the translation referred to in Rule 44bis.3(b) or (d) and shall send a copy of the observations to each of the interested designated Offices and to the International Bureau.