Administrative Instructions under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

Section 319
Procedure under Rule 4.9(b)

(a)  Where the receiving Office finds that the request contains an indication under Rule 4.9(b) that the designation of a State is not made but the request does not contain a priority claim to an earlier national application filed in that State, the receiving Office shall promptly notify the applicant accordingly and shall draw the applicant's attention to Rule 26bis.

(b)  If the receiving Office does not, before the expiration of the time limit under Rule 26bis.1(a), receive a notice correcting or adding a priority claim to an earlier national application filed in the State, the designation of which is not made, it shall cancel ex officio the indication under Rule 4.9(b), shall enclose that indication in square brackets, draw a line between the square brackets while still leaving the indication legible, enter, in the margin, the words "CANCELLED EX OFFICIO BY RO" or their equivalent in the language of publication of the international application, and promptly notify the applicant accordingly. If the record copy has already been sent to the International Bureau, the receiving Office shall also notify that Bureau.