Roadmap to PCT reform

UK IPO consults before making response on behalf of the UK.

In February 2009 the director general of WIPO set out his roadmap for reform of the PCT system.  A working group has been convened by WIPO, with the memorandum formalised into a document setting out WIPO's position. At this early stage it is hard to predict the destination that the roadmap will be used to navigate to, and of course there is the issue of whether enough people will actually want to get into the car and start off in the direction of "better".

The UK IPO has launched its own informal consultation on PCT reform.  The consultation document is online now (available here), and sets out UK IPO's current position in light of its own preliminary discussions with some of its users.  The consultation document asks questions that aim enable the UK IPO to validate its position, or otherwise.  Also included in the consultation document is a useful summary of the ideas that have already been put forward by Japan, Korea and the US.  If you wish to make your views known to the UK IPO the closing date for submissions in response to the consultation document is 21 September 2009.  Details of how to make a response are available here.

If you require any further information in relation to this matter, please contact your usual Appleyard Lees advisor or your local Appleyard Lees office. We would be happy to help.