Innovation & intellectual property · 23/09/2025

EPO and CNIPA extend PCT ISA pilot until 2031

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) have extended the pilot program for the EPO to serve as the International Searching Authority (ISA) for Chinese Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applicants until 2031. This means that Chinese PCT applicants can continue to use the EPO for international patent searching and examination services.