What can be filed at a later date when submitting an International Application?

When submitting an International Application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), certain components of the application can be filed at a later date. In this case, the correct answer indicates that the Abstract and Fees can be submitted later.

The PCT allows for some flexibility in the application process. Specifically, applicants may choose to provide an abstract that outlines the invention's technical content and a fee structure that corresponds to the processing and publication of the application. This can be beneficial to applicants who need additional time to finalize these components without delaying the overall submission of the application.

In contrast, the other options mention components that generally need to be included as part of the initial submission. Claims are fundamental to defining the scope of protection sought; without them, the application cannot fully achieve its purpose. Drawings may also be critical for a complete understanding of the invention, especially in cases where visual representation is essential. File history refers to the records of the application process, which are established at the time of filing and cannot be retroactively added.

Understanding which parts of an application can be deferred helps streamline the application process, allowing inventors to prioritize the preliminary submission while still being able to finalize their abstract and manage associated fee payments.