PCT Committee Discusses ISA/IPEA Appointments and Agreements

WIPO PCT Newsletter

Published February 3rd, 2026

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

The PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation met in February 2026 to discuss the appointment of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) as an ISA/IPEA and the extension of existing ISA/IPEAs. The Committee agreed to recommend these appointments and approved a new format for ISA/IPEA agreements.

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What changed

The PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation held its thirty-third session on February 2-3, 2026, in Geneva. Key discussions included the potential appointment of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) under the PCT, and the extension of appointment for all 25 existing ISA/IPEAs whose terms expire in December 2027. The Committee recommended approving IMPI's appointment and the extensions for existing authorities.

Additionally, the Committee approved a revised format for ISA/IPEA agreements, which will integrate operational information into the PCT Applicant's Guide and Official Notices rather than separate annexes. Amendments to the PCT Regulations will be considered by the PCT Assembly in July 2026, alongside decisions on the ISA/IPEA appointments and extensions. This change impacts how operational details for ISA/IPEAs are communicated and managed.

What to do next

Review PCT Assembly agenda for July 2026 regarding ISA/IPEA appointments and PCT Regulations amendments.
Monitor WIPO Official Notices (PCT Gazette) and PCT Applicant's Guide for updated operational information regarding ISA/IPEAs from January 1, 2028.

Source document (simplified)

PCT Newsletter

February 2026 | No. 02/2026

PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation

The thirty-third session of the PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation was held in Geneva on 2 and 3 February 2026. The Committee discussed the application from the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) to be appointed as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) under the PCT (see document PCT/CTC/33/27). The Committee also discussed the applications for extension of appointment of all 25 existing ISA/IPEAs, the periods of appointment of which will expire on 31 December 2027 (see documents PCT/CTC/33/2 to 26). The Committee agreed to recommend to the PCT Assembly the appointment of IMPI as an ISA/IPEA and the extension of appointment of all existing ISA/IPEAs. The Committee also approved a new format for the model agreement to be used as a basis for preparing the individual agreements that each Office or organization will have with the International Bureau in relation to its functioning as an ISA/IPEA from 1 January 2028. The new format for the agreement will no longer have separate annexes setting out the operational information for each ISA/IPEA; this information will be published in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) and reflected in the PCT Applicant’s Guide. When approving the new format, the Committee agreed to submit to the Assembly amendments to the PCT Regulations necessary for use of the new format for the agreements (see document PCT/CTC/33/28). These amendments will be considered by the PCT Assembly in July 2026 when it decides on the appointment of IMPI and the extensions of appointment of existing ISA/IPEAs and, where appropriate, approves the individual draft agreements between each Office or organization and the International Bureau. The Summary by the Chair (document PCT/CTC/33/29) is available on the WIPO website with the working documents and a link to the webcast videos and speech-to-text transcripts of the session at: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=89830 Subscribe Back to Contents page