X-Ref PCT book - What is it?

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The book The Cross-Referenced Patent Cooperation Treaty compiled by Cees Mulder ​is a 355-page A4-size book covering the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Regulations under the PCT. 

The large number of references in the articles and rules makes the PCT difficult to read. The idea behind this book is to add cross-references to the articles and rules, thereby giving the reader a much better overview of the structure of the PCT and allowing the reader to navigate through the provisions of the PCT in an efficient manner.

Numerous references to the PCT Applicant's Guide are also included in the book, providing the reader with additional information.

Structure of the book

The Cross-Referenced Patent Cooperation Treaty is structured as follows:

1. The text of the Articles and Rules of the PCT is reproduced in its entirety.

2. References to Articles and Rules have been inserted in a column adjacent to the text of the PCT. To show which item in a sentence of the law the reference is related to, the particular part of that sentence is printed in bold.

3. References have been inserted to related Articles and Rules at the beginning of each Article and Rule or, if appropriate, at the beginning of a subsection of an Article or Rule.

4. Summaries of the contents of the references are included to help the reader to quickly determine the relevance of the article or rule.

Earlier editions of the X-Ref PCT

​The majority of the references in this book are to the PCT. However, because the European Patent Office (EPO) can act under the PCT as a receiving Office, International Searching Authority, Supplementary International Searching Authority, International Preliminary Examining Authority in the international phase and as a designated Office and elected Office in the regional phase:

1. Links to the relevant provisions of the European Patent Convention are also included.
2. References to the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO, to the Guidelines for Search and Examination in the EPO as PCT authority, to the so-called Euro-PCT Guide and to the Rules Relating to Fees, in as far as relevant for the PCT, have been inserted into the relevant Articles and Rules of the PCT.

Annexes
Annex 1 gives a comprehensive Overview of the PCT Proceedings, followed by an annex detailing the Main Procedure Steps of the PCT. An up-to-date overview of the Fees and Actions is presented in Annex 3. In addition, there are annexes with a list of PCT States, Paris Convention States and WTO Members followed by a list of PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities. The Index to the PCT Articles and Rules is followed by an annex with a selection of Practical Advices as published in the PCT Newsletter