Weigh In on Global Patent Application Forms
Published Date: 11/21/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is asking for your thoughts on renewing a form related to the Patent Cooperation Treaty, which helps inventors apply for patents internationally. This update won’t cost you extra money but aims to keep paperwork simple and clear. You’ve got 30 days from November 21, 2025, to share your comments and help shape the process!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
PCT Form Renewal Keeps Filing Requirements
If you file international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the USPTO is renewing the information collection (OMB Control Number 0651-0021). The renewal covers private-sector filers with an estimated 412,493 respondents and responses, takes between 0.25 and 4 hours per response, totals 343,739 annual burden hours, and carries an estimated $452,878,858 in annual non-hourly costs. Responding is required to obtain or retain patent-processing benefits under the treaty.
Mailing Cost Increase for PCT Submissions
If you mail PCT submissions, the postage estimate used by the USPTO rose from $10.40 to $11.20 for the Priority Mail legal flat rate envelope. That change increased the estimated postage costs from $42,900 to $46,200 and added $3,300 to the total annual non-hourly cost burden.
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