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

When submitting an International Application, it is permissible to file the Abstract and Fees at a later date. This flexibility is provided under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) regulations, which allow applicants to initially submit the application without including the abstract, as long as it is provided within a specific time frame later. Fees associated with the international application can also be settled after the initial filing.

By allowing the Abstract to be filed later, the PCT aims to streamline the initial submission process, enabling applicants to focus on essential components of the application while ensuring they still have the opportunity to complete the submission by meeting requirement deadlines. This flexibility supports applicants by providing them with additional time to refine their application materials without delaying the overall submission of their international patent applications.

In contrast, elements such as claims and drawings typically need to be included in the initial filing to ensure the application meets the requirements and effectively serves its purpose. Therefore, those components do not share the same provision for later submission as the Abstract and Fees.