1.412 The United States Receiving Office.

• (a) The United States Patent and Trademark Office is a Receiving Office only for applicants who are residents or nationals of the United States of America.
• (b) The Patent and Trademark Office, when acting as a Receiving Office, will be identified by the full title “United States Receiving Office” or by the abbreviation “RO/US.”
• (c) The major functions of the Receiving Office include:
  • (1) According of international filing dates to international applications meeting the requirements of PCT Art. 11(1) and PCT Rule 20 ;
  • (2) Assuring that international applications meet the standards for format and content of PCT Art. 14(1) , PCT Rule 9 , 26 , 29.1 , 37 , 38 , 91 , and portions of PCT Rules 3 through 11 ;
  • (3) Collecting and, when required, transmitting fees due for processing international applications ( PCT Rule 14 , 15 , 16 );
  • (4) Transmitting the record and search copies to the International Bureau and International Searching Authority, respectively ( PCT Rules 22 and 23 ); and
  • (5) Determining compliance with applicable requirements of part 5 of this chapter.
  • (6) Reviewing and, unless prescriptions concerning national security prevent the application from being so transmitted ( PCT Rule 19.4 ), transmitting the international application to the International Bureau for processing in its capacity as a Receiving Office:
    • (i) Where the United States Receiving Office is not the competent Receiving Office under PCT Rule 19.1 or 19.2 and § 1.421(a) ; or
    • (ii) Where the international application is not in English but is in a language accepted under PCT Rule 12.1(a) by the International Bureau as a Receiving Office; or
    • (iii) Where there is agreement and authorization in accordance with PCT Rule 19.4(a)(iii) .

[Para. (c)(6) added, 60 FR 21438, May 2, 1995, effective June 1, 1995; para. (c)(6) revised, 63 FR 29614, June 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1998 (adopted as final, 63 FR 66040, Dec. 1, 1998)]