The Office of Patent Cooperation Treaty Legal Administration provides:
(1) legal and policy guidance on issues under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), including PCT rulemaking, international search and examination guidelines, petitions and training;
(2) education programs for Patent Examining Corps professionals, technical support staff, members of the patent community, and users of PCT; and
(3) administrative oversight and coordinates the activities dealing with the international and national phase applications.
The Office of PCT Legal Administration is comprised of two branches: PCT Special Programs and PCT Legal Affairs.
PCT Special Programs Branch
The function of the PCT Special Programs Branch is to educate and assist the patent community with respect to the Patent Cooperation Treaty by providing:
- training courses to help patent applicants and practitioners file PCT applications
- instruction to patent examiners at the USPTO concerning the search and examination of PCT applications.
- direct assistance regarding PCT applications via the PCT Help Desk
PCT Legal Affairs Branch
The PCT Legal Affairs Branch resolves legal issues relating to the Patent Cooperation Treaty which most often arise through petitions to the Commissioner in PCT international applications and in U.S. national stage applications submitted under 35 U.S.C. 371. This Branch:
- interprets and/or suggests changes to patent laws and rules and studies their effect on the Patent Cooperation Treaty
- deals with other aspects of international patent law such as harmonization, the Patent Law Treaty, and electronic filing.
ORGANIZATION CHART
Announcements, Resource Materials, and FAQs
See PCT Legal Administration program pages for more information.
CONTACT US
Correspondence and hand delivery addresses used for filing new international applications, responses to invitations, demands, national phase entry paper, etc.
- Correspondence address
Mail Stop PCT
Commissioner for Patents
PO Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
- Hand delivery address* for delivery services (Federal Express (Fed Ex), UPS, DHL, Laser, Action, Purolator, etc.)
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Customer Service Window, Mail Stop PCT
Randolph Building
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
* The location for the Customer Service Window is on the first floor of the south side of the Randolph Building with street level access from Ballenger Avenue.
Correspondence and hand delivery addresses used for filing petitions and other legal matters in international applications and national phase applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 371.
- Correspondence Address
Mail Stop PCT
Attention: PCT Legal
Commissioner for Patents
PO Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
- Hand Delivery Address
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Customer Service Window, Mail Stop PCT
Attention: PCT Legal
Randolph Building
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Address for PCT Operations customer service for inspecting files located in PCT PALM locations. Customer should call 703-756-1800 to make arrangements to inspect a file.
- PCT File Inspection Location
File Information Unit
Randolph Square Building
Room 3A20
2800 South Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22206
PCT Mailing List
The Office of PCT Legal Administration maintains a mailing list to notify PCT customers, via e-mail, of updates to the forms and other information on these pages. Requests to be placed on this list should be sent to pctupdates-request@uspto.gov. Please ensure that you include your preferred e-mail address in the request. The USPTO privacy policy governs use of this list.
PCT Telephone and Facsimile Numbers
The PCT Help Desk, which provides information and assistance on the PCT process, may be reached by telephone at (571) 272-4300 between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:30 pm (EST/EDT), Monday through Friday or by facsimile (FAX) at (571) 273-0419 twenty-four hours a day.
The PCT Legal Office for petitions and other legal matters may be reached by facsimile (FAX) at (571) 273-0459 twenty-four hours a day.
The PCT Operations may be reached by facsimile (FAX) at (571) 273-3201 twenty-four hours a day.
Feedback
Comments and suggestions relating to the forms and information available on this site may be directed to the Office of PCT Legal Administration by mail or facsimile. Any correspondence by mail should be addressed to
Mail Stop PCT
Commissioner for Patents
PO Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
The contents of the envelope should be addressed to the attention of Harry Kim. Harry may be reached by facsimile (FAX) at (571) 273-0419 or by e-mail at Harry.Kim@uspto.gov.
PEP Contacts