WIPO
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
Regulations under the PCT
WOPCR
69/116

Rule 57

The Handling Fee

57.1       Requirement to Pay

        Each demand for international preliminary examination shall be subject to the payment of a fee for the benefit of the International Bureau ("handling fee") to be collected by the International Preliminary Examining Authority to which the demand is submitted.

57.2       Amount

(a)
The amount of the handling fee is as set out in the Schedule of Fees.
(b)
[Deleted]
(c)
The handling fee shall be payable in the currency or one of the currencies prescribed by the International Preliminary Examining Authority ("prescribed currency"), it being understood that, when transferred by that Authority to the International Bureau, it shall be freely convertible into Swiss currency. The amount of the handling fee shall be established, in each prescribed currency, for each International Preliminary Examining Authority which prescribes the payment of the handling fee in any currency other than Swiss currency, by the Director General after consultation with the Office with which consultation takes place under Rule 15.2(b) in relation to that currency, or, if there is no such Office, with the Authority which prescribes payment in that currency. The amount so established shall be the equivalent, in round figures, of the amount in Swiss currency set out in the Schedule of Fees. It shall be notified by the International Bureau to each International Preliminary Examining Authority prescribing payment in that prescribed currency and shall be published in the Gazette.
(d)
Where the amount of the handling fee set out in the Schedule of Fees is changed, the corresponding amounts in the prescribed currencies shall be applied from the same date as the amount set out in the amended Schedule of Fees.
(e)
Where the exchange rate between Swiss currency and any prescribed currency becomes different from the exchange rate last applied, the Director General shall establish the new amount in the prescribed currency according to directives given by the Assembly. The newly established amount shall become applicable two months after its publication in the Gazette, provided that the interested International Preliminary Examining Authority and the Director General may agree on a date falling during the said two-month period in which case the said amount shall become applicable for that Authority from that date.

57.3       Time Limit for Payment; Amount Payable

        The handling fee shall be paid within one month from the date on which the demand was submitted, provided that, where the demand was transmitted to the International Preliminary Examining Authority under Rule 59.3, the handling fee shall be paid within one month from the date of receipt by that Authority. The amount payable shall be the amount applicable on that date of submittal or date of receipt, as the case may be. For the purposes of the preceding two sentences, Rule 59.3(e) shall not apply.

57.4 and 57.5       [Deleted]

57.6       Refund

        The International Preliminary Examining Authority shall refund the handling fee to the applicant:

(i)
if the demand is withdrawn before the demand has been sent by that Authority to the International Bureau, or
(ii)
if the demand is considered, under Rule 54.4, not to have been submitted.
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