Confidentiality

The international application and any documents related thereto are not published prior to the expiration of 18 months from the priority date, unless the applicant requests early publication of the international application. In addition, the receiving Office, the International Bureau, the International Searching Authority, the International Preliminary Examining Authority, and the national Office, do not allow access to an international application and any documents related thereto by third parties before its international publication unless requested or authorized by the applicant.