Patent Applications Management Software (PCT-ROAD)

General Information about PCT-ROAD

• What is PCT-ROAD?
• Background of PCT-ROAD Project
• Which Offices participate in the PCT-ROAD system?
• What are the benefits of PCT-ROAD?
• How does PCT-ROAD work?

 

What is PCT-ROAD?

The PCT-ROAD (Receiving Office ADministration) System enables a PCT Receiving Office to start electronic filing under the PCT. It can also be used to facilitate the processing of filings on paper or in PCT-EASY format (paper copy accompanied by a diskette containing the request form data and abstract), PCT Receiving Office activities such as formality checks, retrieving an international application (IA) for viewing or printing are also supported.

Major features of the system include its ability to handle electronic filings, as follows:

• Process PCT electronic filings received on physical media or other means
• Check that the International Application conforms to the legal and technical requirements under the PCT
• Assign a receipt number and issue confirmation of receiving an International Application
• Upload filings from physical media such as a CD-R to a database on a PC Workstation, so that the Home Copy and Record Copy requirements can be met
• Manage International Applications (Home Copy).

New features of PCT-ROAD in 2006

The PCT-ROAD system was updated in 2006 to provide further important functions for PCT ROs and to introduce Spanish language support into the system. Major features of the PCT-ROAD system upgrade include:

• Generation and management of the most commonly used receiving Office forms and the management of International Bureau forms;
• Deadline Management;
• Management of the electronic copy of International Applications submitted on paper;
• Implementation of on-line Help function;
• The capacity for the PCT-ROAD system to be presented and operated in Spanish language environment.

Background of PCT-ROAD Project

PCT e-filing became available with the International Bureau as receiving Office (RO/IB) in February 2004, using PCT-SAFE Client software for filing either over the Internet or on physical media such as CD-R or floppy diskette. Nevertheless, there are many PCT Contracting States that have not been able to take advantage of electronic filing due to limited resources and/or constraining IT infrastructure. As a result, applicants using these receiving Offices could not enjoy the benefits of electronic filing.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) developed its own receiving system for PCT-SAFE applications and has been successfully operating it for Korean applicants since January 2004. KIPO, in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is now adapting the KIPO system to make it available to all PCT Receving Offices, thereby making PCT electronic filing accessible to all Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs).

The PCT-ROAD system was a stand-alone system to handle electronic International Applications filed on physical media, such as CD-R or floppy diskette and also maintaining the possibility of filing on paper or using PCT-EASY. This system has been upgraded to support a multi-user environment. PCT applicants are able to benefit from the e-filing fee reductions (up to 300 CHF or equivalent per application) when filing with their own receiving Office.

For applicants to file with a competent Receiving Office that operates PCT-ROAD, they simply obtain PCT electronic filing software, such as the PCT-SAFE client software free of charge. 

Which Offices participate in the PCT-ROAD system?

The PCT-ROAD system is developed and updated as a WIPO-KIPO Cooperation Project to facilitate PCT receiving Offices in handling electronic international applications. Five Patent Offices (Egypt, Israel, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia) closely participated in the PCT-ROAD Project as a Pilot Office in 2005 and 2006. The Philippine and Malaysian Offices have now launched and operate the PCT-ROAD system in their Offices. The PCT-ROAD system was introduced to several other Offices and some Offices have expressed their interest in using the PCT-ROAD system.

The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office contributed to implementing the Spanish language support in the PCT-ROAD making electronic filing under the PCT more accessible for Offices that work in Spanish.

WIPO would like to thank the Israeli Patent Office (ILPTO) for the important role that it played in the advancement of the PCT-ROAD System in 2005.  PCT-ROAD has been developed to support the most essential features in the processing, maintenance and management of international applications by PCT Receiving Offices, and ILPTO played a key role in providing input into the development of the system from the receiving Office perspective.  In particular, WIPO relied on the ILPTO for its active involvement in the testing of the system. The ILPTO’s knowledge and experience with the receiving and processing of the international applications has been invaluable.  We think that PCT-ROAD is a better product thanks to the close cooperation between KIPO, WIPO and ILPTO.

What are the benefits of PCT-ROAD?

Making PCT electronic filing accessible to small Offices by:

• providing practical assistance to PCT Contracting States in automating PCT administration and bridging the experience gap between developed and developing member States;
• Enabling applicants to file using any of the options now available in the PCT, such as fully electronic (with a fee reduction of up to 300 CHF), PCT-EASY (fee reduction of 100 CHF) or paper format;
• Having the capacity to expand the system at a later stage to enable on-line electronic filing under the PCT. The Offices may also find that this system can be adapted to facilitate electronic filing of national patents.

Improve Efficiency of Receiving Office Administration by:

• Satisfying the growing demand for the use of electronic methods for processing and data exchange and an ability to keep up with the continued increase in the number of International Applications;
• Improving efficiency of the business environment, in particular for receiving and managing PCT documents.

How does PCT-ROAD work?

A PCT Request can be prepared using the PCT-SAFE Client software and the technical description part of the application can be drafted using the PCT-SAFE Editor (PSE). Finally, an International Application (IA) can be submitted electronically to a Receving Office after storing it on a CD-R or diskette (the type of acceptable physical media is decided by the Receiving Office) using the physical media filing option in the PCT-SAFE Client.

For the Receiving Office staff, the system supports the most essential functions associated with processing International Applications, i.e. receiving the application, data entry, printing, ex-officio correction, formality check and creating Receiving Office Wrapped Application Signed Package (WASP) – a mechanism for sending the record copy to WIPO.

The following table illustrates how the system fits into the Receiving Office’s activities. The services and functions of the system may be subject to change on the basis of requirement analysis results.