pct-application

name	pct-application
description	PCT international application preparation under PCT Rules 5-12 - unity of invention, formal requirements, national phase entry strategy, and deadline management
tools	Bash, Read, Write
model	sonnet

PCT Application Skill

Preparation and validation of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international applications under PCT Rules 5-12.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when users ask to:

• Prepare a PCT international application
• Check PCT formalities compliance
• Assess unity of invention under Rule 13 PCT
• Plan national/regional phase entry strategy
• Calculate PCT fees and deadlines
• Convert a national application to PCT format
• Understand PCT procedure and timelines

What This Skill Does

Provides comprehensive PCT application support:

1. Application Preparation (Rules 3-12 PCT):

   • Request form (PCT/RO/101) guidance
   • Description format (Rule 5 PCT)
   • Claims structure (Rule 6 PCT)
   • Abstract requirements (Rule 8 PCT)
   • Drawings standards (Rule 11 PCT)
   • Physical requirements (Rule 11 PCT)
   • Sequence listings (Rule 12 PCT, WIPO Standard ST.26)

2. Unity of Invention (Rule 13 PCT):

   • Single general inventive concept assessment
   • Special technical feature identification
   • Linking technical feature analysis
   • Unity objection risk assessment
   • Claim grouping strategy

3. Formalities Validation (Rules 3-12 PCT):

   • All formal requirements checking
   • Fee calculation per Receiving Office
   • Language requirements per RO
   • Physical document requirements

4. National Phase Strategy:

   • 30/31 month deadline tracking
   • Country selection guidance
   • Translation requirements per country
   • National phase fee estimates
   • Strategic filing considerations

Required Data

MCP Tools Available:

• check_pct_formalities - PCT Rules 5-12 formalities checking
• search_patent_law - Search PCT rules, regulations, administrative instructions
• search_patents_bigquery - Prior art search for unity assessment

How to Use

When this skill is invoked:

1. Determine user's stage:

   • New PCT filing from scratch
   • Converting national application to PCT
   • Reviewing existing PCT draft
   • Planning national phase entry

2. For new applications, guide through:

   • Invention disclosure review
   • Unity of invention assessment
   • Description drafting (Rule 5 format)
   • Claims structuring (Rule 6 format)
   • Abstract preparation (Rule 8)
   • Formalities checklist

3. For review, analyze:

   • All Rule 5-12 requirements
   • Unity of invention
   • Generate compliance report
   • Suggest fixes

PCT Application Structure

Request (Rule 4 PCT)

Form PCT/RO/101 requires:

• Applicant details (name, address, nationality, residence)
• Title of invention
• Priority claim(s) (if any, within 12 months)
• Designation of states (automatic for all since 2004)
• Choice of International Searching Authority (ISA)
• Agent/representative details

Description (Rule 5 PCT)

Required sections in order:

1. Title of the Invention
2. Technical Field
3. Background Art
4. Disclosure of the Invention
   - Technical problem
   - Technical solution
   - Advantageous effects
5. Brief Description of Drawings
6. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
7. Industrial Applicability
8. Sequence Listing (if applicable)

Claims (Rule 6 PCT)

Structure requirements:

• Numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals
• Independent claims: define essential features of the invention
• Dependent claims: refer back and further limit
• Clear, concise, fully supported by description
• Multiple claim categories allowed (product, process, apparatus, use)
• Unity of invention required (Rule 13)

Abstract (Rule 8 PCT)

• Maximum 150 words
• Indicate technical field
• Clear summary of technical problem, solution, and principal use
• Designate most illustrative figure
• Not used for interpreting claim scope

Drawings (Rule 11 PCT)

• A4 paper (29.7cm x 21cm)
• Usable area: 26.2cm x 17cm
• Margins: top 2.5cm, left 2.5cm, right 1.5cm, bottom 1cm
• Black, dense, well-defined lines
• No text except single words
• Reference signs matching description

Unity of Invention (Rule 13 PCT)

Assessment Framework

Unity requires claims to relate to one invention only or a group of inventions linked to form a single general inventive concept.

Test: Do all claims share a special technical feature that:

1. Makes a contribution over the prior art, AND
2. Is present in all independent claims (or links them)

Common Unity Patterns

Unity Maintained:

• Product + process for making product
• Product + use of product
• Process + apparatus specifically designed for process
• Product + process + apparatus (all sharing special technical feature)

Unity at Risk:

• Multiple independent claims without shared special technical feature
• Markush groups without common structural feature
• Method and apparatus addressing different problems

Unity Strategy

Independent Claim 1 (System): A system comprising feature X...
Independent Claim 8 (Method): A method using feature X...
Independent Claim 15 (Use): Use of feature X for...

Special Technical Feature: "feature X" - shared across all groups
Unity: MAINTAINED (single general inventive concept linked by X)

PCT Timeline

Month 0:  File PCT application at Receiving Office (RO)
Month 3:  International search begins (ISA)
Month 16: International Search Report (ISR) issued
Month 18: International publication (WIPO)
Month 22: Demand for preliminary examination (optional, Chapter II)
Month 28: International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER)
Month 30: National/regional phase entry deadline (most countries)
Month 31: National phase deadline (some countries: US, JP, etc.)

Fee Calculation

Base Fees (2025 estimates)

Fee	Amount	Notes
Transmittal fee	Varies by RO	RO/US: USD 280
International filing fee	CHF 1,330	Electronic reduction: -CHF 200
Search fee	Varies by ISA	ISA/EP: EUR 1,775; ISA/US: USD 2,680
Additional page fee	CHF 16/page	Beyond 30 pages
Additional claim fee	Varies	Beyond limits set by ISA

Electronic Filing Reduction

Filing via ePCT: CHF 200 reduction on international filing fee

National Phase Fees (Estimates)

Country	Entry Fee	Notes
US (371)	~USD 1,600	Basic filing + search + examination
EP (Euro-PCT)	~EUR 2,595	Filing + search + designation
JP	~JPY 195,000	National fee + translation
CN	~CNY 3,500	National fee + translation
KR	~KRW 460,000	National fee + translation

National Phase Strategy

Key Decisions

1. Which countries? - Based on markets, competitors, manufacturing
2. Which ISA? - Affects search quality, cost, language
3. Chapter II? - Optional preliminary examination for stronger report
4. Early national phase? - Some countries allow before 30 months
5. Translation strategy - Cost and timing considerations

Common Filing Strategies

Broad Coverage:

• US + EP + CN + JP + KR (covers ~85% of global patent value)

Cost-Conscious:

• US + EP only (defer others until commercial validation)

Technology-Specific:

• Pharma: US + EP + JP + CN + IN + BR
• Software: US + EP + JP + KR
• Manufacturing: US + EP + CN + DE + JP

Compliance Report Format

PCT APPLICATION COMPLIANCE REPORT
====================================

Application: [Title]
Receiving Office: RO/[XX]
ISA Selected: ISA/[XX]

DESCRIPTION (Rule 5 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Title present
[PASS/FAIL] Technical field
[PASS/FAIL] Background art
[PASS/FAIL] Invention disclosure
[PASS/FAIL] Brief description of drawings
[PASS/FAIL] Best mode
[PASS/FAIL] Industrial applicability

CLAIMS (Rule 6 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Consecutively numbered
[PASS/FAIL] Supported by description
[PASS/FAIL] Clear and concise

UNITY OF INVENTION (Rule 13 PCT):
[PASS/WARN/FAIL] Single general inventive concept
Special technical feature: [identified feature]
Risk of unity objection: LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH

ABSTRACT (Rule 8 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] Word count within 150
[PASS/FAIL] Figure designated
[PASS/FAIL] Technical field indicated

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Rule 11 PCT):
[PASS/FAIL] A4 format
[PASS/FAIL] Margins
[PASS/FAIL] Page numbering
[PASS/FAIL] Line spacing

FEES:
Transmittal: [amount]
International filing: [amount]
Search: [amount]
Total: [amount]

DEADLINES:
[Date] - Priority expires (12 months)
[Date] - Furnish priority doc (16 months)
[Date] - International publication (18 months)
[Date] - Chapter II demand (22 months)
[Date] - National phase entry (30/31 months)

Integration

Works with other skills/agents:

• Uses EPO Patent Analyzer skill for Euro-PCT quality
• Coordinates with EPO Patent Search for EP prior art
• Invokes EPC Search skill for PCT rule research
• Uses BigQuery Patent Search for worldwide prior art

Tools Available

• Read: To load application documents
• Bash: To run PCT compliance checks
• Write: To save compliance reports and application drafts