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ARTICLE · 13 OCTOBER 2020

Which International Search Authority Is Right For Me?

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP
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When filing a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, applicants must select an international search authority (ISA) to compile the international search report and written ...

United StatesIntellectual Property
Maeve O’Flynn
Maeve O’Flynn
K. Victoria Barker, Ph.D.
K. Victoria Barker, Ph.D.
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When filing a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, applicants must select an international search authority (ISA) to compile the international search report and written opinion. The search report highlights relevant prior art, while the written opinion provides a non-binding opinion on patentability.

This information will likely influence a prosecution strategy in the national and regional phases of the application process. Getting the "right" ISA can be important, but what does "right" mean in this context?

While most receiving offices allow applicants a choice of ISAs, applicants tend to default to their local ISA since that is usually their primary business region, so an early opinion on local patentability issues may be valuable. However, there may be advantages to using a different ISA, depending on the business needs for the application in question.

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