The 14^th session of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Working Group of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Dong Cheng, Director of the Patent Examination Cooperation Guangdong Center of Patent Office, CNIPA was re-elected as the chairman of the meeting and presided over the meeting through online means.

This meeting continues to be held in a hybrid format with both physical presence and remote participation. The working group mainly discussed issues regarding the improvement of PCT system and its future development, including the amendments to the PCT Regulations, the integration of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) into the PCT system, and the transfer of PCT fees. With the full support of the working team of the CNIPA, WIPO China Office and WIPO Secretariat, a consensus on the proposed amendments to the PCT Regulations has been reached at the meeting. According to the proposal, in case of a large disruption of PCT services caused by, for example, COVID-19, the competent authorities, international authorities and international bureaus can provide the mechanism of guarantees including pardon for non-compliance with the deadlines and extension of deadlines for the applicants. The above amendments provide for the coordination of PCT Member States to take relief measures for applicants during the pandemic.

(Source: CHINA Official WeChat Account)