In response to Circular, two Offices made counter proposals as summarized in below.
A office wished to allow for any valid form of signature before an IP Office to be recognized during the international phase, provided that Office had notified the International Bureau of the types of signature that it accepted.
A office concerned the language of the provision, and proposed the wording “Where a document is submitted to an Office, Authority, or the International Bureau on paper, that Office, Authority, or International Bureau may permit the signature provided on such document to be handwritten, printed, typed, or stamped” allowing for an Office to accept signatures in different forms.
The International Bureau would like to stress the importance of having one standard definition of "signature" which functions as one of the formality requirements under the PCT procedure during the International Phase.
