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17.2 Availability of Copies - Patent Cooperation Treaty
§ 17.2 Availability of Copies
(a) Where the applicant has complied with Rule 17.1(a), (b) or (bbis), the International Bureau shall, at the specific request of the designated Office, promptly but not prior to the international publication of the international application, furnish a copy of the priority document to that Office. No such Office shall ask the applicant himself to furnish it with a copy. The applicant shall not be required to furnish a translation to the designated Office before the expiration of the applicable time limit under Article 22. Where the applicant makes an express request to the designated Office under Article 23(2) prior to the international publication of the international application, the International Bureau shall, at the specific request of the designated Office, furnish a copy of the priority document to that Office promptly after receiving it.
(b) The International Bureau shall not make copies of the priority document available to the public prior to the international publication of the international application.
(c) Where the international application has been published under Article 21, the International Bureau shall furnish a copy of the priority document to any person upon request and subject to reimbursement of the cost unless, prior to that publication:
(i) the international application was withdrawn,
(ii) the relevant priority claim was withdrawn or considered, under Rule 26bis.2(b), not to have been made.
(iii) [Deleted]
(d) [Deleted]
Rule 18
The Applicant
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