On January 1, 2026, new rules came into effect under the
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) regarding international patent
searches that effectively widens the collection of searchable
patent data available to International Searching Authorities,
improving access to a broader and more representative body of
global patent information.
Expansion of minimum documentation under the PCT
Amendments to PCT Rules 34, 36 and 63 expand the minimum documentation available
to the PCT International Searching Authorities (ISA), bringing in
additional national patent collections, with further collections
expected to follow.
Expanding and broadening the available prior art base
underpinning PCT searches is expected to substantially improve the
depth and reliability of prior art searches conducted by the
ISAs.
