Test takers report that MPEP Chapter 1800, PCT, is tested heavily on the Prometric Patent Bar Exam. Experiencing 3-4 questions on this topic is common and some test takers report as many as 10-15 questions (most likely some are beta questions).
Publication
A test taker reports a question about publication of a PCT application under PCT rules if the application is filed with the US receiving office and ONLY designates the US. Answer – MPEP 1803 (if the US is the only contracting state in an IA, IA will not be published at 18 months). Otherwise, the application is published 18 months from the priority date of the IA.
PCT 1803 Reservations Under the PCT Taken by the United States of America
[...]It has also declared that, as far as the United States of America is concerned, international publication is not required (PCT Article 64 (3)). Accordingly, under PCT Article 64(3)(b), if the United States is the only PCT Contracting State designated in an international application, the international application will not be published by the International Bureau (IB) at 18 months. Even though the United States Patent and Trademark Office has begun pre-grant publication under 35 U.S.C. 122(b), the United States has not removed its reservation under PCT Article 64(3) because not all United States patent applications are published. See 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2). The application will, however, be published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) if it enters the national stage in the United States. It will be published again if it is allowed to issue as a United States patent.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
This is perhaps the question (as presented in an earlier exam):
The correct answer is (A), for the reasons cited above: MPEP 1803.
That’s not the same question. It wanted to know if it would be published as an IA and/or under 122. The choices were it would be published once, under each, not at all, etc.
The correct answer is that it would not be published as an IA, since the US was the only designated state, but it would be published when it entered the national stage.
A. is correct
B. Is false – if they desinate only the US, no publication
C. is correct.
D. is false – because all international applications are published.
E. is false
This seems to be a beta or incorrect question.
I cant find any reference which disputes statement C. See 1893.03(e)
CORRECTION:
I’ve looked it up and C is false.
Every PCT application after it enters the national stage is once again published as a US application.
Sorry for any confusion
With regard to the test question involving publication of international applications received by the USPTO as receiving office, can anyone tell me how one might find MPEP 1803 by searching. I am quite impressed by Dan’s post #38 on the “Prometric Patent Bar” tab which the advocates the extensive use MPEP search, but I don’t see how to apply Dan’s test-taking strategy to a case like this one. I have yet to find a keyword or key phrase that leads to 1803.
Thanks, Art Williams
This is how you may find it:
In the MPEP E8R4 go into Appendix T: PCT. Search for “not published”. After one ot two clicks you see the reference to Article 64(3), the title of the Article is Reservations.
In the MPEP E8R4 do into Chapter 1800, PCT, search for 64(3) or Reservation, It will take you pretty quickly to 1803.
Searching “18 months” from top of 1800 PCT finds 1803 on the third hit.
For what it’s worth: these search hints still hold for E8R8.
When goes to national stage
A US PCT filed on July 23, When will be the latest date goes to national stage?
Should not it be 30 months after the priority date (may or may not be the filing date depending on whether priority is claimed)?
Saw this one on 10/3.
Answer included something along the lines of: “IB will not publish, but US will publish upon entry into the national stage”.