Administrative Instructions under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

Section 602bis
Transmittal of Other Documents to the International Bureau under Rule 71.1(b)

(a)  The International Preliminary Examining Authority shall transmit a copy of the following documents to the International Bureau under Rule 71.1(b):

(i) any written opinion issued by the International Preliminary Examining Authority;

(ii) any replacement sheet containing amendments under Article 34 and any letter accompanying the amendments, including any such amendments and letters that have been superseded;

(iii) any letter containing arguments that the applicant submitted to the International Preliminary Examining Authority under Rule 66.3;

(iv) any invitation to restrict the claims or pay additional fees issued by the International Preliminary Examining Authority; and  

(v) any protest against the invitation to restrict the claims or pay additional fees and the decision thereon, regardless of whether or not the applicant has so requested in accordance with Rule 68.3(c).

The International Preliminary Examining Authority may transmit to the International Bureau a copy of any other document in its file.

(b)  The International Preliminary Examining Authority may transmit the documents referred to in paragraph (a) to the International Bureau at any time after they have become available, but generally not later than at the time of transmitting a copy of the international preliminary examination report to that Bureau.

(c)  Any International Preliminary Examining Authority may decide to postpone the application of paragraphs (a) and (b) until such time as it is technically prepared to do so.