Top Five IP Offices to Cooperate and Create PCT International Search Report

The top five IP offices which is comprised of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO), State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), and Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) have started a pilot program for creating International Search Reports through the collaboration of the top five IP offices and providing them to applicants starting July 1, 2018.

The trial run was decided on during the commissioners’ meeting held in June of this year. Before the trial run, an applicant needed to decide as to whether to enter a specific country based on the International Search Report investigated by only one IP office. Through the pilot program, applicants will be able to more accurately judge patentability of their application because the International Search Report is investigated by five IP offices but only paying an ISR fee at one IP Office.

The duration of the pilot program is to be two years. The number of applications accepted by the JPO under this program is limited to 50 applications per year.

Any applicant who wishes to participate in this program must submit a participation application request form to the program at the time they file their PCT application, and the applicant will be notified as to whether the application has been accepted into the program by the JPO.