INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
PCT
Spain to be bound by Chapter II of the PCT
1. Spain, the last PCT contracting state to maintain a reservation concerning PCT Chapter II (international preliminary examination), will also become bound by the provisions thereof on 6 September 1997 following withdrawal of its declaration under Article 64(1)(a) PCT.
2. As from this date and irrespective of whether the international application is filed before, on or after 6 September 1997
(a) nationals and residents of this state may submit demands for international preliminary examination of international applications filed by them; and
(b) this state may be elected in a demand for international preliminary examination or in later elections submitted in respect of any international application in which it is a designated state.
3. The competent International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for international applications filed with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office as receiving Office will be the EPO.
4. Furthermore, applicants are recommended to take note of the Information for PCT applicants concerning the procedure before the EPO as an IPEA under PCT Chapter II, published in OJ EPO 1994, 681, which is still applicable as from page 685, "Condition 3".