PDF, PCT Yearly Review - WIPO

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GLOSSARY
Applicant: An individual or legal entity that files a patent application. There may be more than one applicant
in an application. In PCT statistics, the name of the first-named applicant is used to determine the owner
of a PCT application.
Application: A set of legal documents submitted to a patent office requesting that a patent be granted for
the applicant’s invention. The patent office then examines the application and decides whether to grant
a patent or reject the application.
Authority specified for Supplementary Search (SISA): An International Searching Authority (ISA) that
provides supplementary international search service. Also known as “Supplementary International
Searching Authority (SISA)”.
Chapter I of the PCT: The provisions in the PCT that regulate the filing of PCT applications, establishment
of international searches and written opinions by ISAs, international publication of PCT applications, and
provides for the communication of PCT applications and related documents to designated offices.
Chapter II of the PCT: The provisions in the PCT that regulate the optional international preliminary
examination procedure.
Country of Origin: For statistical purposes, the country of origin of a PCT application is the country of
residence (or nationality, in the absence of a valid residence) of the first-named applicant in the PCT
application.
Designated Office (DO): A national or regional office of or acting for a State designated in a PCT application
under Chapter I of the PCT.
Designated State: A Contracting State in which protection for the invention is sought, as specified in the
PCT application.
Elected Office: The national or regional office of or acting for a State elected by the applicant under Chapter
II of the PCT, at which the applicant intends to use the results of the international preliminary
examination.
Filing Abroad: For statistical purposes, a patent application filed by a resident of the home country at a
patent office of a foreign country. For example, a patent application filed by an applicant residing in
France at the USPTO is considered a “filing abroad” from the perspective of France. A “filing abroad” is
the mirror concept to a “non-resident filing”, which describes a patent application by a resident of a
foreign country from the perspective of the home country.
International Authority: A national or regional patent office, or international organization that fulfills
specific tasks, as prescribed by the PCT.
International Bureau (IB): In the context of the PCT, the International Bureau of the World Intellectual
Property Organization acts as a Receiving Office for PCT applications from all Contracting States. It also
handles certain processing tasks with respect to all PCT applications filed with all Receiving Offices
worldwide.
International Filing Date. The date on which the Receiving Office received the PCT application (provided
certain formality requirements are met).