Article 150 - OJ 1997, 592

PCT
Amendment of PCT Regulations

- OJ 1997, 592 -

At its meeting of 16 September to 1 October 1997, the PCT Assembly approved a large number of amendments to the PCT Regulations. Most of the changes will enter into force on 1 July 1998. A full report will appear in a later edition of the OJ.

The Assembly also decided on various fee reductions and changes to the PCT Gazette. These will come into effect on 1 January 1998.

1. Reduction of PCT fees

For international applications filed after 1 January 1998, the basic fee is reduced by around 15% and the designation fee by approximately 19%¹. The amounts payable in the currencies approved by the EPO as PCT Receiving Office are indicated in the Guidance for the payment of fees, costs and prices.

2. PCT Gazette

As of 1 January 1998, with the entry into force of the amendments to Rule 86 PCT, the PCT Gazette will be published in electronic form as well as on paper².

The paper version will be published bilingually instead of in separate English-language and French-language editions. It will contain only the bibliographic data from the front page of the pamphlet published in accordance with Rule 48 PCT and, as in the past, the information required by Rule 86.1(ii)- (v) PCT.

The electronic version will contain, in addition, the abstract and the drawing from the front page. It will be accessible simultaneously in English and French³. Details will be given in the Administrative Instructions.