1 Sep 24: updated, including legal changes of 1 July 24 added. See blog post for details.

Reviews:
- Nominee - IPKat Book of 2021 / Yellow Sheet (Nov 21) / Salted Patent (Apr 21)

- I passed EQE paper D by reading and tabbing the .app books!
There is NO WAY I would have got through EQE-D if not for choosing EPC.app and PCT.app as my main texts
- A very clever idea to have a digital version to input your annotations with updates
- EPC.app and PCT.app helped me a lot in EQE Paper D - I did not even need to annotate it

- Pete's PCT.app book saved me on EQE Paper D1
- I found it to be very good for EQE D exam. The plain language and keyword index made it work for me
- Being able to edit the contents to how I see fit was a surprisingly easy experience
- Organising PCT.App by subject in the order that an application would go through PCT gives an intuition that I haven’t found in other materials
- How convenient to have Till & Pete update your go-to EPC & PCT so they are always up to date
- Can´t recommend enough for EQE candidates as well as anyone in the profession
- I always had the material, with my own annotations, available online and as a printed book

PCT.App - online or printed book

PCT.App

PCT.App tackles the well-known problem that the Articles define only basic matter, and the Rules are convoluted and difficult to comprehend.  We have created a pioneering legal reference for those who wish to go beyond the official WIPO user guides.

Combining knowledge from 10 years of teaching PCT, and the highly automated IP.appify platform, we have created a PCT study book for lawyers, patent attorneys & formalities officers.

Crucial for daily practice and essential for European Qualifying Exam (EQE) students. Available in English & German.

Online for those who prefer digital access and want to tailor content with their own annotations and highlighting, and hide unwanted parts. Subscribers can make printable colour pdf's at any time, or use print-on-demand for a colour hardcopy. A fully-commented black & white paper book is also available.

Always double check the status of info with the latest official resources. Consult an authorised professional or legal counsel before relying on the information presented.

Readable on your phone or tablet

Full screen 70perc vert - A.11
Full screen 70perc vert - index

PCT.App is in the cloud, and readable using any internet browser on mobile phone or tablet. It is searchable, with hyperlinks & cross-references to internal & external resources.

These screenshots here were made using a Sony Xperia 10, narrow 6-inch screen (21:9 ratio) screen = 1080 x 2520 pixels, Android 10, Chrome browser set to 70 percent text and full screen mode. Similar results were possible using Opera & Brave browsers. Note that the Update and Author modes are only for authors. 

For editing & modifying content, it is recommended to use a larger screen with a mouse & keyboard.

You can optimise the readability on a phone or tablet by:
- using full-screen mode by adding a link to the Homescreen, and opening the browser with the link
- changing Text scaling to 70 - 80% in Settings / Accessibility
- using the pinch to zoom in or out

Full screen 70perc hor - A.11

Logical legal structure

130 subjects in 18 parts

130 SUBJECTS and PARTS are organised into 15 SECTIONS by merging the order of the Articles with the chronological order of the WIPO PCT Applicant's Guide. This mirrors the life of a PCT application.

 

Each SUBJECT and PART includes paragraphs from the most relevant provisions - less relevant parts are hidden or cross-referenced. All PCT Articles and Rules are included at least once.

Comprehensive guide to PCT law & procedure

Extensively annotatedf

Legal texts and comments are displayed side-by-side.
Authors’ comments are assigned per paragraph, and include references to other provisions, external resources and annotations.
Umbrella & implementing provisions are frequently indicated. 

Explanations & overviews are provided for complex subjects such as:

  • Legal Effects of Filing Date & Publication
  • Relationship between PCT & National Law
  • Entitlement to Priority, Claiming of Priority
  • Communications between rO, ISA, IPEA and dO/eO's
  • Loss of Rights in International Phase
  • Remedies and Loss or Maintenance of National Effect
  • Review in National Phase of Decisions by rO/IB
  • Excusing of Delays

Similar structure to PCT Applicant's Guides

Where possible, the structure mirrors the PCT Applicant's Guide - Introductions to International Phase (AG-IP) & National Phase (AG-NP). This allows a straightforward jump to PCT.App if you want to know the relevant law.

PCT.App - SUBJECTS and PARTS

AG-IP (International) - CHAPTERS

1. What is the PCT?

2. What is the PCT?

2. Filing an International Application

5. Filing an International Application

3. Processing of Application by RO

6. Processing of Application by RO

4. International Search: Processing of Application by ISA

7. International Search: Processing of Application by ISA

5. Supplementary International Search by SISA

8. Supplementary International Search

6. International Publication & Other Processing by IB

9. International Publication & Other Processing by IB

7. International Preliminary Examination by IPEA

10. International Preliminary Examination under Chapter II

8. Misc. Questions concerning International Phase

11. Misc. Questions concerning International Phase

PCT.App - SUBJECTS and PARTS

AG-NP (National) - CHAPTERS

9. End of International Phase

3. Time Limit for Entering International Phase

10. Acts to be Performed for Entry

4. Acts to be Performed for Entry

11. Special National Phase Requirements

5. Special Requirements to be Complied With in National Phase

12. Misc. Questions concerning National Phase

6. Misc. Questions concerning National Phase

13. Entry into specific Regional & National Phases (EP & US)

National Chapters - EP & US

Use with Indexed Applicant's Guides

Indexed PCT Applicant's Guide

PCT.App concentrates mainly on the Articles & Rules, it is useful to use with our Indexed PCT Applicant's Guide, which includes the main official WIPO Guidelines. Also included are our Detailed Tables of Contents, overviews of major changes in last 3 years & page numbers: 

  • Introduction to International Phase (AG-IP)

  • Administrative Instructions (AI)

  • Introduction to National Phase (AG-NP)

Standardised layout & marking

R.12.4 BW (annotated & marked)

Standard phrases in legal texts have been replaced by well-known abbreviations, such as IB, ISA, IPEA, rO, and dO. Inline comments in the legal text are sometimes used, such as /eO. Standardised marking is used to emphasize key words, time limits, fees, languages, and legal consequences, either in black & white (printed book) or color (online): 

  • normal marking (book: solid underline, online: black underline) => main issues & requirements
  • strong marking (book: bold font, online: yellow highlight) => right-column annotation relevant for phrase
  • fees (book: dotted underline, online: green underline)
  • time-limits (book: dashed underline, online: orange underline)
  • languages (book: wavy underline, online: blue underline)
  • legal consequence (book: double underline, online: red underline)

Efficiently find references and legal basis

Article 11

The extensive comments & annotations allow it to be used as-is for exams, like the EQE or EPAC.

During preparation before the exam, learn the structure and distribution by answering as many legal questions as possible.

 

Many SECTIONS, SUBJECTS and PARTS start with overviews of Key issues and Outlines of Procedure.

 

Use it with the PCT Applicant's Guide and Euro-PCT Guide, and ignore parts not relevant for the exam.

Efficiently find relevant page numbers

Step 1 = determine relevant points in procedure by scanning SECTIONS:

  • Priority Filing, Priority Year
  • International Phase (Filing, Search, Publication, After Publication)
  • Optional International Phase: Supplementary Search / Examination, After Publication)
  • For subjects covering more than one INTERNATIONAL SECTION, go to 8. Misc. Questions concerning International Phase
  • National/Regional Entry (13.1 EPO Regional Phase => Euro-PCT)
  • National/Regional Phase
  • For subjects covering more than one NATIONAL SECTION, go to 12. Misc. Questions concerning National Phase

Step 2 = determine relevant pages by scanning SUBJECTS and PARTS in Detailed Contents

For example: download (Nov 23) example of Detailed Contents

Detailed Contents give overview of:

  • SECTIONS in chronological order

  • Relevant PARTS and SUBJECTS  

  • Relevant explanation & comment boxes with box titles, Key issuesOutlines of Procedure

  • Relevant Articles & Rules together with provision titles

Detailed Contents give overview of:

  • SECTIONS in chronological order
  • Relevant SUBJECTS and PARTS
  • Relevant explanation & comment boxes with box titles, Many SECTIONS, SUBJECTS and PARTS include Key issues & Outlines of Procedure.
  • Relevant Articles & Rules together with provision titles

Efficiently find specific Articles & Rules

Step 1 = determine possible relevant pages by scanning Legal Provisions Index:

For example: download (Nov 23) example of Index of Legal Provisions

 

  • Consecutive Articles are approximately found in consecutive SECTIONS

  • Each Article and Rule is included at least once.

  • But, paragraphs of each legal provision are included with the most relevant SUBJECTS and PARTS. Adjacent paragraphs may be in separate SUBJECTS and PARTS, and are not all paragraphs are included together.

  • Page numbers in the Index of Legal Provisions are shown where each provision is at least partially included

Step 2 = confirm relevant SUBJECTS and PARTS in Detailed Contents by scanning page numbers 

For example: download (Nov 23) example of Detailed Contents

Detailed Contents give overview of:

  • SECTIONS in chronological order

  • Relevant SUBJECTS and PARTS  

  • Relevant explanation & comment boxes with box titles, Key issuesOutlines of Procedure

  • Relevant Articles & Rules together with provision titles

Customise & self-edit your PCT.App

Self-editable on larger screens

Subscribers can digitally navigate up-to-date legal texts on their mobile devices. The contents can be freely adapted with personal annotations & highlighting, and unwanted parts can be hidden.
For editing & modifying content, it is recommended to use a larger screen with a mouse & keyboard. The screenshot depicted is from a PC with an author's personal highlighting scheme.
Legal updates occur automatically without disturbing your individual annotations, so there is no need to transfer your notes. See here for FAQ's.

  • Read & navigate: hyperlinked internal references to Articles & Rules, and external references to Guidelines & OJEO notices. Marking styles are in color, and can be personalized. Users can also define and apply two of their own marking styles - see here for more details.

  • Hide and add text: hide legal texts and comments you do not want to see. The text is not deleted permanently, and can be restored. Add comments and references in areas you struggle with. Subscribers to EPC.App can add bidirectional hyperlinked references.

  • Further shape to your logic: add Articles & Rules that you consider more relevant. Your comments are linked to legal paragraphs, so they appear wherever the paragraph is visible. Overviews of each section are generated automatically.
  • Never out-of-date: your adaptations are saved in a personal cloud, and legal texts are regularly updated automatically. Generate an A4 color printable pdf of your own PCT.App for printing in your office or a customized color copy via a print-on-demand service.

Order a customized printed book

Customizable marking styles

Subscribers can order a print-on-demand customized color copy of their own reference. It is approx. 600 pages, but it depends on the degree of customization. It is 25.4 x 17,8cm, printed on 60g paper. 

You determine the content and the marking styles, using your preferred colors for the standard styles and two of your own styles. For example, standard styles may be redefined as:

  • normal marking (black underline, 1 pixel) => main issues & requirements
  • strong marking (yellow highlight, #FFF68F) => right column annotation relevant for phrase
  • time limits (light purple highlight, #FFDAFB)
  • fees (green highlight, #ADFFBA)
  • languages (light blue highlight, #94FFF8)
  • legal consequence (red underline, 1 pixel and red text, #FF0000)

Order a printed book

PCT.App

A fully-commented paper book is available through Amazon in different countries. It is 660 pages (38 mm thick). A more portable version, printed on thin (50g) bible paper (21mm thick), is also available.

It includes all the comprehensive annotations, comments and cross-references by the authors.

The marking styles are black & white only, using different underlining styles and bold text. It is available in English and German, and is regularly updated. Editing and colour hardcopies are only available to online subscribers.

History, organization & finances

Records of Washington Diplomatic Conference (1970)

Comments & cross-references have been included in PCT.App based on the original and updated minutes from the Washington Diplomatic Conference (WDC 1970), where the legal text was finalised..

We provide a printing service for these WIPO texts - they are less relevant for applicants and exam candidates, but highly relevant for those studying the history and those who keep PCT up to date. They also include info about the WIPO organization, internal financing, treaty amendment and accession process.

  • Part 1 What is the PCT includes principles, advantages & disadvantages, definitions from provisions, and the relationship between PCT & national laws.
  • Part 14 Technical Services deals with Art. 50-52
  • Part 15 Administrative Provisions deals with Art. 53-58
  • Part 16 Disputes deals with Art. 59
  • Part 17 Revision & Amendment deals with Art. 60-61
  • Part 18 deals with Treaty Accession, Entry into Force and Notifications with Art. 62-69

Nothing in our training or study materials is to be considered as legal advice - our resources are intended for educational and informational purposes only. IP law is highly complex and continuously changing, so always double check the status with the latest official resources. Consult an authorised professional or legal counsel before relying on the information presented. In particular, the authors and Fireball Patents do not accept liability for the accuracy of the information or for any printing errors.

Fireball Patents, Eindhoven, NL

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