Rule 8

Print this page

1. [Communications Filed on Paper]
a) After June 2, 2005, any Contracting Party may, subject to Articles 5(1) and 8(1)d), exclude the filing of communications on paper or may continue to permit the filing of communications on paper. Until that date, all Contracting Parties shall permit the filing of communications on paper.
b) Subject to Article 8(3) and subparagraph c), a Contracting Party may prescribe the requirements relating to the form of communications on paper.
c) Where a Contracting Party permits the filing of communications on paper, the Office shall permit the filing of communications on paper in accordance with the requirements under the Patent Cooperation Treaty relating to the form of communications on paper.
d) Notwithstanding subparagraph a), where the receiving or processing of a communication on paper, due to its character or its size, is deemed not practicable, a Contracting Party may require the filing of that communication in another form or by other means of transmittal.


2. [Communications Filed in Electronic Form or by Electronic Means of Transmittal]
a) Where a Contracting Party permits the filing of communications in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal with its Office in a particular language, including the filing of communications by telegraph, teleprinter, telefacsimile or other like means of transmittal, and there are requirements applicable to that Contracting Party under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in relation to communications filed in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal in that language, the Office shall permit the filing of communications in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal in the said language in accordance with those requirements.
b) A Contracting Party which permits the filing of communications in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal with its Office shall notify the International Bureau of the requirements under its applicable law relating to such filing. Any such notification shall be published by the International Bureau in the language in which it is notified and in the languages in which authentic and official texts of the Treaty are established under Article 25.
c) Where, under subparagraph a), a Contracting Party permits the filing of communications by telegraph, teleprinter, telefacsimile or other like means of transmittal, it may require that the original of any document which was transmitted by such means of transmittal, accompanied by a letter identifying that earlier transmission, be filed on paper with the Office within a time limit which shall be not less than one month from the date of the transmission.


3. [Copies, Filed in Electronic Form or by Electronic Means of Transmittal, of Communications Filed on Paper]
a) Where a Contracting Party permits the filing of a copy, in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal, of a communication filed on paper in a language accepted by the Office, and there are requirements applicable to that Contracting Party under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in relation to the filing of such copies of communications, the Office shall permit the filing of copies of communications in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal, in accordance with those requirements.
b) Paragraph 2b) shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to copies, in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal, of communications filed on paper.