About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines

PART VI  THE INTERNATIONAL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION STAGE (OTHER THAN THE INTERNATIONAL PRELIMINARY REPORT)

Chapter 19 Examination Procedure Before The International Preliminary Examining Authority

Further Stage of International Preliminary Examination

Article 34(2)(d); Rule 66.4(a), (b)

19.26  When the applicant has responded to a written opinion, the examiner may, if necessary and if sufficient time remains for the applicant to respond and for the international preliminary examination report to be established (see paragraphs 19.10 and 19.11), issue one or more additional written opinions. Likewise, if the applicant so requests, the examiner may give him one or more additional opportunities to submit amendments or arguments.

19.27  The additional written opinion from the examiner should invite the applicant to submit a written reply together with, where appropriate, amendments. After receipt of this opinion, the applicant may respond by amending the claims, description and drawings or, if he disagrees with the opinion, submit arguments, as the case may be, or do both. The conditions for amendments set out in paragraphs 20.04 to 20.22 apply.

19.28  The examiner should apply the same standard of international preliminary examination in relation to matters of substance at all stages in the processing of the international application. However, after the International Searching Authority has established a first written opinion, he will not normally need to completely re-read the amended application if he has drafted his first written opinion in a comprehensive way (see paragraph 17.55) but he should concentrate on the amendments themselves and any related passages, and on the deficiencies indicated in his first written opinion.

Rules 66.2, 66.4

19.29  The examiner should be guided by the overriding principle that an international preliminary examination report should be established after as few written opinions as possible, and he should control the procedure with this always in mind. The PCT provides that the process of communicating with the applicant described in paragraph 19.30 may be repeated if the International Preliminary Examining Authority so wishes. Nevertheless, if it is clear that the applicant is not making any real effort to deal with the examiner’s objections, either by amendments or by counter-arguments, then at the conclusion of the first, or second, written opinion stage the examiner should establish the international preliminary examination report (see paragraph 19.47). If the examiner has discovered any relevant documents in a top-up search and intends to raise new objections based on them, he should issue a second written opinion to notify the applicant accordingly. If the examiner determines that the issuance of an additional written opinion would facilitate the final resolution of significant issues, the examiner should consider the issuance of such written opinion. The examiner may consider issuing an additional written opinion, if there are still objections that are required to be met, provided that there is sufficient time available for the establishment of the international preliminary examination report within the time limit set in the treaty, that the applicant is making a real effort to meet the examiner’s objection and that the International Preliminary Examining Authority has adequate resources (see paragraphs 19.26 and 20.05). The examiner may also consider whether outstanding issues would best be resolved by a further written opinion, a telephone discussion or an interview.

19.30  If the matters are such that the applicant is likely to require time to consider them, the examiner may wish to issue an additional written opinion. If, however, there seems to be confusion about points in dispute, for example, if the applicant seems to have misunderstood the examiner’s reasons, or if the applicant’s own argument is not clear, then it may expedite matters if the examiner proposes an interview. On the other hand, if the matters to be resolved are minor, or can quickly and easily be explained and dealt with, then they might be settled more expeditiously by telephone discussion. Discussion with the applicant by interview or telephone is more fully considered in paragraphs 19.41 to 19.46.

19.31  Where a response to a written opinion is received in the form of arguments only, the written opinion is reconsidered in the light of those arguments. Where the response includes some amendments, other than rectification of obvious mistakes (Rule 66.5), the amended description, drawings, and/or claims are considered as in paragraphs 20.04 to 20.22. In such a case the international preliminary examination report should indicate that the applicant’s arguments have been taken in account in establishing the international preliminary examination report. In addition, the examiner should comment on any relevant arguments made by the applicant.

Rule 66.4bis

19.32  Where the time limit set for response to a further written opinion expires without a response being received, the file is forwarded to the examiner who prepared the opinion, who proceeds to establish the international preliminary examination report as in Chapter 17.

19.33 Where a response is received after the expiration of the time limit and the report has not yet been established, then the response can be considered. But note Rule 66.4bis (amendments, arguments or rectification of obvious mistakes need not be taken into account). See also paragraph 20.05.