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:

1. 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)

2. 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

3. Formalities Validation (Rules 3-12 PCT):

   • All formal requirements checking
   • Fee calculation per Receiving Office
   • Language requirements per RO
   • Physical document requirements

4. 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 checking
• search_patent_law - Search PCT rules, regulations, administrative instructions
• search_patents_bigquery - Prior art search for unity assessment

How to Use

When this skill is invoked:

1. Determine user's stage:

   • New PCT filing from scratch
   • Converting national application to PCT
   • Reviewing existing PCT draft
   • Planning national phase entry

2. 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

3. 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:

1. Makes a contribution over the prior art, AND
2. 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)

Electronic Filing Reduction

Filing via ePCT: CHF 200 reduction on international filing fee

National Phase Fees (Estimates)

National Phase Strategy

Key Decisions

1. Which countries? - Based on markets, competitors, manufacturing
2. Which ISA? - Affects search quality, cost, language
3. Chapter II? - Optional preliminary examination for stronger report
4. Early national phase? - Some countries allow before 30 months
5. 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