(Corrected “ISA/IB” typo to “ISA/IN” thanks to an alert commenter, see below.)
When you file a PCT application that contains a genetic sequence or an amino acid sequence, you are supposed to provide it in a particular computer-readable format. This makes sense, of course. For one thing, the various patent offices around the world want to load such sequence listings into searchable databases. The idea is to facilitate searching so that if later somebody tries to get a patent on some sequence, and if the sequence is not novel, the lack of novelty can be quickly ascertained. A second reason for this is that if the PCT application tries to claim a sequence, the International Searching Authority can readily carry out a novelty search of that claimed sequence.
But what happens if the PCT applicant fails to provide the sequence in the computer-readable format? Or what happens if the PCT applicant purports to provide the sequence in the computer-readable format, but the data file is not formatted correctly? In such cases, the International Searching Authority is permitted to impose a Late Furnishing Fee.
Which raises the question — which ISAs charge the most? Which ISAs charge the least? Continue reading “Which Searching Authorities charge the most for bad sequence listings?”