PCT Receiving Office Guidelines

Chapter XIII: Record Copy, Search Copy and Home Copy

National Security Clearance

295. Where prescriptions relating to national security do not allow the application to be treated as an international application, neither the record copy nor the search copy must be transmitted. If a national security check must be performed, the record copy must be transmitted to the International Bureau as soon as the required clearance has been obtained (Article 27(8), Rule 22.1(a)). If a required national security clearance is refused, the receiving Office notifies the applicant and the International Bureau accordingly before the expiration of 13 months from the priority date (Section 330 and paragraphs 32 to 34).