7月1日起實施的WIPO規定

去年9月間在日內瓦舉行的PCT修法會議中，經有部份方案將於今年7月1日起實施，包括有：

1. 當有WIPO專利申請案提出時，申請人於國際局（international bureau, IB）可請求數位化的優先權文件，7月1日起可延長請求文件的時間限制，延長到WIPO專利案被公開之前。但取消由原本PCT案各國受理局（receiving office）的取得數位優先權文件的權力
2. PCT Rule 20.7(b)（專利局要求申請人訂正的期限）在專利申請人於專利局發出駁回申請案的通知以前及時提出訂正，仍會受理訂正
3. 中文專利申請文件被接受可以為執行國際檢索（international search）的最低文件要求（minimum documentation）。此最低文件要求要包括：專利申請文件、申請前已公開前案（relevant prior art）、根據權利範圍提出的前案檢索等
4. 加入接受因為不可抗拒的情況（force majeure circumstances）造成未能於各PCT期限內回應的理由

參考法條：
PCT Art. 11(2) Filing Date and Effects of the International Application
(a) If the receiving Office finds that the international application did not, at the time of receipt, fulfill the requirements listed in paragraph (1), it shall, as provided in the Regulations, invite the applicant to file the required correction.
若受理局在接獲申請案時，若文件並未符合申請案要求，將要求申請人訂正
(b) If the applicant complies with the invitation, as provided in the Regulations, the receiving Office shall accord as the international filing date the date of receipt of the required correction.
若申請人符合要求，受理局將以訂正日為PCT申請日


PCT Rule 20.7 Time Limit
(b)  Where a correction under Article 11(2) or a notice under Rule 20.6(a) confirming the incorporation by reference of an element referred to in Article 11(1)(iii)(d) or (e) is received by the receiving Office after the expiration of the applicable time limit under paragraph (a) but before that Office sends a notification to the applicant under Rule 20.4(i), that correction or notice shall be considered to have been received within that time limit.
即便申請人提出的訂正已經超出期限，但若在專利局發出通知以前提出訂正，仍應列入考慮

因為中國的關係，所以已經有簡體中文資料：
檔案：http://www.wipo.int/pct/zh/texts/pdf/pct_regs2012.pdf


Ron