PCT Application Skill
Preparation and validation of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international applications under PCT Rules 5-12.
When to Use
Invoke this skill when users ask to:
- Prepare a PCT international application
- Check PCT formalities compliance
- Assess unity of invention under Rule 13 PCT
- Plan national/regional phase entry strategy
- Calculate PCT fees and deadlines
- Convert a national application to PCT format
- Understand PCT procedure and timelines
What This Skill Does
Provides comprehensive PCT application support:
- Application Preparation (Rules 3-12 PCT):
- Request form (PCT/RO/101) guidance - Description format (Rule 5 PCT) - Claims structure (Rule 6 PCT) - Abstract requirements (Rule 8 PCT) - Drawings standards (Rule 11 PCT) - Physical requirements (Rule 11 PCT) - Sequence listings (Rule 12 PCT, WIPO Standard ST.26)
- Unity of Invention (Rule 13 PCT):
- Single general inventive concept assessment - Special technical feature identification - Linking technical feature analysis - Unity objection risk assessment - Claim grouping strategy
- Formalities Validation (Rules 3-12 PCT):
- All formal requirements checking - Fee calculation per Receiving Office - Language requirements per RO - Physical document requirements
- National Phase Strategy:
- 30/31 month deadline tracking - Country selection guidance - Translation requirements per country - National phase fee estimates - Strategic filing considerations
Required Data
MCP Tools Available:
check_pct_formalities- PCT Rules 5-12 formalities checkingsearch_patent_law- Search PCT rules, regulations, administrative instructionssearch_patents_bigquery- Prior art search for unity assessment
How to Use
When this skill is invoked:
- Determine user's stage:
- New PCT filing from scratch - Converting national application to PCT - Reviewing existing PCT draft - Planning national phase entry
- For new applications, guide through:
- Invention disclosure review - Unity of invention assessment - Description drafting (Rule 5 format) - Claims structuring (Rule 6 format) - Abstract preparation (Rule 8) - Formalities checklist
- For review, analyze:
- All Rule 5-12 requirements - Unity of invention - Generate compliance report - Suggest fixes
PCT Application Structure
Request (Rule 4 PCT)
Form PCT/RO/101 requires:
- Applicant details (name, address, nationality, residence)
- Title of invention
- Priority claim(s) (if any, within 12 months)
- Designation of states (automatic for all since 2004)
- Choice of International Searching Authority (ISA)
- Agent/representative details
Description (Rule 5 PCT)
Required sections in order:
1. Title of the Invention
2. Technical Field
3. Background Art
4. Disclosure of the Invention
- Technical problem
- Technical solution
- Advantageous effects
5. Brief Description of Drawings
6. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
7. Industrial Applicability
8. Sequence Listing (if applicable)Claims (Rule 6 PCT)
Structure requirements:
- Numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals
- Independent claims: define essential features of the invention
- Dependent claims: refer back and further limit
- Clear, concise, fully supported by description
- Multiple claim categories allowed (product, process, apparatus, use)
- Unity of invention required (Rule 13)
Abstract (Rule 8 PCT)
- Maximum 150 words
- Indicate technical field
- Clear summary of technical problem, solution, and principal use
- Designate most illustrative figure
- Not used for interpreting claim scope
Drawings (Rule 11 PCT)
- A4 paper (29.7cm x 21cm)
- Usable area: 26.2cm x 17cm
- Margins: top 2.5cm, left 2.5cm, right 1.5cm, bottom 1cm
- Black, dense, well-defined lines
- No text except single words
- Reference signs matching description
Unity of Invention (Rule 13 PCT)
Assessment Framework
Unity requires claims to relate to one invention only or a group of inventions linked to form a single general inventive concept.
Test: Do all claims share a special technical feature that:
- Makes a contribution over the prior art, AND
- Is present in all independent claims (or links them)
Common Unity Patterns
Unity Maintained:
- Product + process for making product
- Product + use of product
- Process + apparatus specifically designed for process
- Product + process + apparatus (all sharing special technical feature)
Unity at Risk:
- Multiple independent claims without shared special technical feature
- Markush groups without common structural feature
- Method and apparatus addressing different problems
Unity Strategy
Independent Claim 1 (System): A system comprising feature X...
Independent Claim 8 (Method): A method using feature X...
Independent Claim 15 (Use): Use of feature X for...
Special Technical Feature: "feature X" - shared across all groups
Unity: MAINTAINED (single general inventive concept linked by X)PCT Timeline
Month 0: File PCT application at Receiving Office (RO)
Month 3: International search begins (ISA)
Month 16: International Search Report (ISR) issued
Month 18: International publication (WIPO)
Month 22: Demand for preliminary examination (optional, Chapter II)
Month 28: International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER)
Month 30: National/regional phase entry deadline (most countries)
Month 31: National phase deadline (some countries: US, JP, etc.)Fee Calculation
Base Fees (2025 estimates)
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transmittal fee | Varies by RO | RO/US: USD 280 |
| International filing fee | CHF 1,330 | Electronic reduction: -CHF 200 |
| Search fee | Varies by ISA | ISA/EP: EUR 1,775; ISA/US: USD 2,680 |
| Additional page fee | CHF 16/page | Beyond 30 pages |
| Additional claim fee | Varies | Beyond limits set by ISA |
Electronic Filing Reduction
Filing via ePCT: CHF 200 reduction on international filing fee
National Phase Fees (Estimates)
| Country | Entry Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US (371) | ~USD 1,600 | Basic filing + search + examination |
| EP (Euro-PCT) | ~EUR 2,595 | Filing + search + designation |
| JP | ~JPY 195,000 | National fee + translation |
| CN | ~CNY 3,500 | National fee + translation |
| KR | ~KRW 460,000 | National fee + translation |
National Phase Strategy
Key Decisions
- Which countries? - Based on markets, competitors, manufacturing
- Which ISA? - Affects search quality, cost, language
- Chapter II? - Optional preliminary examination for stronger report
- Early national phase? - Some countries allow before 30 months
- Translation strategy - Cost and timing considerations
Common Filing Strategies
Broad Coverage:
- US + EP + CN + JP + KR (covers ~85% of global patent value)
Cost-Conscious:
- US + EP only (defer others until commercial validation)
Technology-Specific:
- Pharma: US + EP + JP + CN + IN + BR
- Software: US + EP + JP + KR
- Manufacturing: US + EP + CN + DE + JP
Compliance Report Format
PCT APPLICATION COMPLIANCE REPORT
====================================
Application: [Title]
Receiving Office: RO/[XX]
ISA Selected: ISA/[XX]
DESCRIPTION (Rule 5 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Title present
[PASS/FAIL] Technical field
[PASS/FAIL] Background art
[PASS/FAIL] Invention disclosure
[PASS/FAIL] Brief description of drawings
[PASS/FAIL] Best mode
[PASS/FAIL] Industrial applicability
CLAIMS (Rule 6 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Consecutively numbered
[PASS/FAIL] Supported by description
[PASS/FAIL] Clear and concise
UNITY OF INVENTION (Rule 13 PCT):
[PASS/WARN/FAIL] Single general inventive concept
Special technical feature: [identified feature]
Risk of unity objection: LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH
ABSTRACT (Rule 8 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Word count within 150
[PASS/FAIL] Figure designated
[PASS/FAIL] Technical field indicated
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Rule 11 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] A4 format
[PASS/FAIL] Margins
[PASS/FAIL] Page numbering
[PASS/FAIL] Line spacing
FEES:
Transmittal: [amount]
International filing: [amount]
Search: [amount]
Total: [amount]
DEADLINES:
[Date] - Priority expires (12 months)
[Date] - Furnish priority doc (16 months)
[Date] - International publication (18 months)
[Date] - Chapter II demand (22 months)
[Date] - National phase entry (30/31 months)Integration
Works with other skills/agents:
- Uses EPO Patent Analyzer skill for Euro-PCT quality
- Coordinates with EPO Patent Search for EP prior art
- Invokes EPC Search skill for PCT rule research
- Uses BigQuery Patent Search for worldwide prior art
Tools Available
- Read: To load application documents
- Bash: To run PCT compliance checks
- Write: To save compliance reports and application drafts