ePCTElectronic portal for PCT applications Tuesday

May 7, 2013

Quan-Ling SIMHead, PCT Outreach and User Relations Section

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Overview

What is ePCT?http://pct.wipo.int/ePCT

Getting startedManaging your PCT applications

Screen views are taken from the ePCT demo portal

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ePCT

Online portal that provides PCT services for both applicants and officesAvailable since May 2011Provides secure and direct interaction with PCT applications maintained by the International BureauApplicants may now conduct most PCT transactions electronicallyWhat‘s New and Coming Soon (click here)

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ePCT modes

“Private” ServicesAuthentication using both a WIPO User Account (username and password) and a digital certificateAccess to full range of services and functionsAccess to applications filed as of January 1, 2009, including before publication

“Public” ServicesLimited functionality (document upload and third party observations)Only a WIPO User Account (username and password) is required

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Getting Started

http://pct.wipo.int/epctCreating a WIPO User Account using the WIPO Accounts serviceObtaining/Uploading a “supported” certificate

WIPO digital certificateEPO digital certificate (smart card)JP SECOM digital certificateKIPO digital certificate

USPTO digital certificates are “not” supported

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WIPO Digital CertificateA small electronic file with data that identifies the user (must be installed in your browser in order to authenticate access to ePCT private services) Available free-of-charge from WIPO, valid 2 years, renewableOne-time opportunity over a two week period to download the digital certificateBackup the digital certificate

Export and password protect the digital certificate (ePCT User Guide, page 32)E-mail the digital certificate to yourself and/or save it on a USB stick

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eHandshake

First step in providing access to PCT applicationsConsists in the association and trusted recognition between different WIPO User Accounts eHandshakes do not directly result in shared access rights which have to be specifically assignedeHandshake screen is hosted in WIPO Accounts (your name at the top of the screen functions as a shortcut link, or select “My Account” from the cogwheel)

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Taking eOwnership

At the time of electronic filingSubsequent to electronic filing using a supported digital certificatePaper-filed applications or electronically-filed applications with non-supported digital certificateAll other casesMultiple applications

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Taking “eOwnership”At the time of electronic filing

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Taking “eOwnership”PCT-SAFE electronic filing

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Taking “eOwnership”eOLF electronic filing

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Taking “eOwnership”At the time of electronic filing

Indications provided at the time of filing will be verified by the International Bureau against the record in ePCTeOwnership automatically assigned

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Taking “eOwnership”E-filed applications (unpublished)

Unpublished e-filed applications using a supported digital certificate

Both the e-filing and ePCT digital certificates must matchEnter the confirmation code in the bottom right-hand corner of Form PCT/IB/301eOwnership automatically assigned

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Taking “eOwnership”Paper or non-supported digital certificate

Applications filed on paper or with non-supported digital certificate (unpublished applications only)Enter PCT/IB/301 confirmation codeWill trigger an on-line form for the International Bureau to approve or reject the request

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Taking “eOwnership”Other Cases

For all other cases, by online request to the International Bureau, e.g., published applications, Rule 92bis changes

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eOwnership approval by the International Bureau

Only requests from persons on the file of an IA can be approved

Applicant, agent, person appointed as address for correspondence, person name on the transmittal receipt for e-filed applications

If the International Bureau cannot match the request with a person on the file, form PCT/IB/345 containing the confirmation code will be sent to the address for serviceThe notification also contains the contact details of the requestor, so that the person at the address for service can pass on the confirmation code if appropriate

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WorkbenchList of all PCT applications to which you have access (eOwner, eEditor, eViewer)The Workbench contains a number of columns

IA NumberIA StatusFile Ref[...]

Various filter options can be applied to the WorkbenchClicking on a PCT application will open up a detailed file view

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File View

Access to the PCT file maintained by the International Bureau (documents plus up-to-date bibliographic data)Front-page previewMy Comments (visible only to the current ePCT user)Warning (viewable to all users who have access rights)Information about target date for international publicationIndications about the public availability of each document typeDirect link to the PCT application in PATENTSCOPE (as of the publication date)

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Access Rights

eOwnerComplete control over all aspects of the PCT application

eEditorCan do everything except assign access rights

eViewer“Look” but don’t “Touch”

Full history of all access rights modifications is availableAssignment of access rights for multiple applications Access rights automatically assigned to default list of eHandshake users

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Notifications

PreferencesSpecify the events in the lifecycle of a PCT application for which you want to receive notificationsManner and type of notifications

FiltersReceived date, read date, date range and

Clearing notificationsRemoving notifications from the list

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My History

All actions that “you” as a user have performed in ePCTDefault view is for the last one week periodThere is also a similar History function within each PCT application which includes all actions by all ePCT users

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Portfolios

User-defined personal folders for filing and grouping PCT applicationsPCT applications contained in portfolios are links to applications contained in the workbenchDeletion of PCT applications from a portfolio only deletes the folder link

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Upload Documents

Article 19 AmendmentsSupplementary International SearchOther (General correspondence, Power of Attorney, Licensing indications, Applicant comments on 3rd party observations, etc.)Declarations under Rule 4.17Corrections/Rectifications (RO/IB applications only)Translations (RO/IB applications only)Withdrawals (use of ePCT Actions is recommended for withdrawal of application, designations, and priority claims)

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Actions

Actions submitted online to the International BureauDeclarations of inventorshipLicensing availability requestMake RO/IB international application available to DASObservations on close prior artRequest to obtain priority document from DASRule 92bis change request (access rights may be temporarily suspended)

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Actions

Actions submitted online (continued) Submit Chapter II demandWithdrawals (Chapter II demand, designations, elections, international application, priority claims)

All actions are subject to validation by the International Bureau

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Timeline

Date and time in Geneva, Switzerland, is displayed at the top of screen to facilitate awareness of deadlinesGraphical representation of PCT time limitsSummary of key datesE-mail alerts for most of these time limits can be set up in Notification Preferences

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Bibliographic Data

Up-to-date bibliographic data for the PCT application being viewedPreview of bibliographic data in publication front page layoutDownload of bibliographic data in PDF formatWhere the language of filing of an international application is Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Russian, bibliographic data is now available in those languages in addition to the English transliteration

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Coming soon

ePCT web-based filingCurrently deployed to a restricted group of pilot usersLimited to filings at RO/IB

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Need help with ePCT

Use the “CONTACT US” link in the ePCT headerPCT e-Services

Tel: +41-22-338-9523 (Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm Geneva time)E-mail: ePCT@wipo.int