WIPO
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
Regulations under the PCT
WOPCR
109/116

Rule 91

Obvious Errors in Documents

91.1       Rectification

(a)
Subject to paragraphs (b) to (g-quater), obvious errors in the international application or other papers submitted by the applicant may be rectified.
(b)
Errors which are due to the fact that something other than what was obviously intended was written in the international application or other paper shall be regarded as obvious errors. The rectification itself shall be obvious in the sense that anyone would immediately realize that nothing else could have been intended than what is offered as rectification.
(c)
Omissions of entire elements or sheets of the international application, even if clearly resulting from inattention, at the stage, for example, of copying or assembling sheets, shall not be rectifiable.
(d)
Rectification may be made on the request of the applicant. The authority having discovered what appears to be an obvious error may invite the applicant to present a request for rectification as provided in paragraphs (e) to (g-quater). Rule 26.4 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the manner in which rectifications shall be requested.
(e)
No rectification shall be made except with the express authorization:
(i)
of the receiving Office if the error is in the request,
(ii)
of the International Searching Authority if the error is in any part of the international application other than the request or in any paper submitted to that Authority,
(iii)
of the International Preliminary Examining Authority if the error is in any part of the international application other than the request or in any paper submitted to that Authority,
(iv)
of the International Bureau if the error is in any paper, other than the international application or amendments or corrections to that application, submitted to the International Bureau.
(f)
Any authority which authorizes or refuses any rectification shall promptly notify the applicant of the authorization or refusal and, in the case of refusal, of the reasons therefor. The authority which authorizes a rectification shall promptly notify the International Bureau accordingly. Where the authorization of the rectification was refused, the International Bureau shall, upon request made by the applicant prior to the time relevant under paragraph (g-bis), (g-ter) or (g-quater) and subject to the payment of a special fee whose amount shall be fixed in the Administrative Instructions, publish the request for rectification together with the international application. A copy of the request for rectification shall be included in the communication under Article 20 where a copy of the pamphlet is not used for that communication or where the international application is not published by virtue of Article 64(3).
(g)
The authorization for rectification referred to in paragraph (e) shall, subject to paragraphs (g-bis), (g-ter) and (g-quater), be effective:
(i)
where it is given by the receiving Office or by the International Searching Authority, if its notification to the International Bureau reaches that Bureau before the expiration of 17 months from the priority date;
(ii)
where it is given by the International Preliminary Examining Authority, if it is given before the establishment of the international preliminary examination report;
(iii)
where it is given by the International Bureau, if it is given before the expiration of 17 months from the priority date.
(g-bis) 
If the notification made under paragraph (g)(i) reaches the International Bureau, or if the rectification made under paragraph (g)(iii) is authorized by the International Bureau, after the expiration of 17 months from the priority date but before the technical preparations for international publication have been completed, the authorization shall be effective and the rectification shall be incorporated in the said publication.
(g-ter) 
Where the applicant has asked the International Bureau to publish his international application before the expiration of 18 months from the priority date, any notification made under paragraph (g)(i) must reach, and any rectification made under paragraph (g)(iii) must be authorized by, the International Bureau, in order for the authorization to be effective, not later than at the time of the completion of the technical preparations for international publication.
(g-quater) 
Where the international application is not published by virtue of Article 64(3), any notification made under paragraph (g)(i) must reach, and any rectification made under paragraph (g)(iii) must be authorized by, the International Bureau, in order for the authorization to be effective, not later than at the time of the communication of the international application under Article 20.
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