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11.6 Margins - Patent Cooperation Treaty
§ 11.6 Margins
(a) The minimum margins of the sheets containing the description, the claims, and the abstract, shall be as follows:
top: 2 cm
left side: 2.5 cm
right side: 2 cm
bottom: 2 cm
(b) The recommended maximum, for the margins provided for in paragraph (a), is as follows:
top: 4 cm
left side: 4 cm
right side: 3 cm
bottom: 3 cm
(c) On sheets containing drawings, the surface usable shall not exceed 26.2 cm x 17.0 cm. The sheets shall not contain frames around the usable or used surface. The minimum margins shall be as follows:
top: 2.5 cm
left side: 2.5 cm
right side: 1.5 cm
bottom: 1.0 cm
(d) The margins referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) apply to A4-size sheets, so that, even if the receiving Office accepts other sizes, the A4-size record copy and, when so required, the A4-size search copy shall leave the aforesaid margins.
(e) Subject to paragraph (f) and to Rule 11.8(b), the margins of the international application, when submitted, must be completely blank.
(f) The top margin may contain in the left-hand corner an indication of the applicant's file reference, provided that the reference appears within 1.5 cm from the top of the sheet. The number of characters in the applicant's file reference shall not exceed the maximum fixed by the Administrative Instructions.
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