Directives of the PCT Assembly Relating to the Establishment of New Equivalent Amounts of Certain Fees
as in force from January 1, 2004
The Assembly establishes in the following terms the directives referred to in Rules 15.2(d), 16.1(d) and 57.2(e), it being understood that, in the light of experience, the Assembly may at any time modify these directives:
(1) At the time of each ordinary session of the Assembly, the Director General shall undertake consultations along the lines of the consultations referred to in Rules 15.2(b) and 57.2(c) and shall establish new equivalent amounts of the international filing fee and handling fee in currencies other than Swiss francs according to the exchange rates applicable on the first day of that session, so that their amounts correspond to the amounts of the fees expressed in Swiss currency. Where such adjustment would only slightly affect the income of the International Bureau, the Director General may decide not to proceed with it. Unless otherwise decided by the Assembly, any adjustment under this paragraph shall enter into force on the first day of the calendar year subsequent to the ordinary session referred to above.
(2) Where for more than 30 consecutive days, the exchange rate between Swiss currency and any other currency is by at least 5% higher, or by at least 5% lower, than the last exchange rate applied,
(i) so far as Rule 15.2(d) is concerned, any receiving Office referred to in the second sentence of Rule 15.2(b) or
(ii) so far as Rule 57.2(e) is concerned, any receiving Office or International Preliminary Examining Authority referred to in the second sentence of Rule 57.2(c)
may ask the Director General to newly establish the amount of the international filing fee and/or handling fee in that currency according to the exchange rate prevailing on the day preceding the day on which the request is made. The Director General shall proceed accordingly, as provided in Rules 15.2(d) and 57.2(e).
(3) Where for more than 30 consecutive days, the exchange rate between Swiss currency and any other currency is by at least 10% higher, or by at least 10% lower, than the last exchange rate applied, the Director General shall,
(i) so far as Rule 15.2(d) is concerned, after consultation with the receiving Office referred to in the second sentence of Rule 15.2(b) or
(ii) so far as Rule 57.2(e) is concerned, after consultation with the receiving Office or International Preliminary Examining Authority referred to in the second sentence of Rule 57.2(c)
and as provided in Rules 15.2(d) and 57.2(e), as the case may be, newly establish the amount of the international filing fee and/or handling fee in that currency according to the exchange rate prevailing on the day preceding the day on which the consultation is initiated by the Director General. Where such adjustment would only slightly affect the income of the International Bureau, the Director General may decide not to proceed with it.
(4) As far as the international filing fee is concerned, the Director General may decide to apply paragraph (3) as if the percentage referred to in that paragraph was 5%.
(5) As far as the search fee of any International Searching Authority in any currency other than the currency or currencies fixed by that Authority is concerned, paragraphs (1) to (3) shall, to the extent applicable, apply mutatis mutandis, except in the case where the equivalent amount of that fee in Swiss francs is equal to or more than 1,000 Swiss francs, in which case the Director General may decide to apply paragraph (3) as if the percentage referred to in that paragraph was 5%.