CNIPA, EPO Extend Pilot PCT Search Project
Updated: 9 30,2022

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the European Patent Office (EPO) jointly announced recently that an ongoing pilot project between the two offices concerning the International Search Authority (ISA) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) will be extended from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. The project allows patent treaty applicants from China to elect the European office as the search authority. Only PCT applications in English filed to the CNIPA or the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization will be accepted by the project that has room for 3,000 applications during the extension period. Applications for which an international search has been completed by the EPO will not be subject to a supplementary European search.

Since the project's debut on December 1, 2020, over 270 applicants have participated in the program. An important outcome of the two organizations' comprehensive strategic cooperation, the pilot project has facilitated Chinese applicants' acquisition of IP protection in Europe.(Translated from CNIPA Website Chinese Version)