Administrative Instructions under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

Section 305
Identifying the Copies of the International Application

(a)  Where, under Rule 11.1(a), the international application has been filed in one copy, the receiving Office shall, after preparing under Rule 21.1(a) the additional copies required under Article 12(1), mark,

(i) the words "RECORD COPY" in the upper left-hand corner of the first page of the original copy,

(ii) in the same space on one additional copy, the words "SEARCH COPY," and

(iii) in the same space on the other such copy, the words "HOME COPY,"

or their equivalent in the language of publication of the international application.

(b)  Where, under Rule 11.1(b), the international application has been filed in more than one copy, the receiving Office shall choose the copy most suitable for reproduction purposes, and mark the words "RECORD COPY," or their equivalent in the language of publication of the international application, in the upper left-hand corner of its first page. After verifying the identity of any additional copies and, if applicable, preparing under Rule 21.1(b) the home copy, it shall mark, in the upper left-hand corner of the first page of one such copy, the words "SEARCH COPY," and, in the same space on the other such copy, the words "HOME COPY," or their equivalent in the language of publication of the international application.