I was told it is a common misconception that ePCT (national...

I was told it is a common misconception that ePCT (national phase) involves standardisation of global patent law. It involves consolidation of existing administrative services with a 'tick the box' addition to WIPO’s ePCT system.

It does not matter whether the person ticking the box understands the local law. This is one of the benefits of the PCT system.


The present arrangement involves typing a PCT application number into eServices and paying a fee. Once this is done, the international PCT patent specification filed at least a year earlier by the foreign attorney is treated as being filed in Australia or New Zealand. This simplification occurred years ago.

IPH is not buying practices in high growth regions. The WIPO statistics clearly show places like Malaysia and Indonesia do not produce any significant amount of IP.

I cannot say when ePCT national phase will be implemented. The earlier published WIPO minutes said a pilot program was to commence at the start of 2016. The trans-tasman article from IPH suggested it was underway.