For a PCT application to count as prior publication under 102(a)(2), what must it entail?

A PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application counts as prior publication under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) if it designates the United States. This designation is crucial because it indicates that the applicant intends for the PCT application to be processed in the U.S. national phase as part of the patenting process. The United States needs this designation to recognize the PCT application as relevant prior art against subsequent patent applications or claims.

In the context of the question, the other options do not meet the requirements established by patent law. For instance, while a PCT application being published in English may be useful for review and understanding, it is not a prerequisite for it to count as prior art. Similarly, entry into the national stage is an important process for pursuing patent protection in the U.S. but does not affect the application’s status as prior art at the publication stage. Lastly, the filing date being after 2000 is irrelevant to the criteria set in 102(a)(2) since PCT applications can be relevant regardless of their filing date as long as they fulfill the necessary requirements, including the designation of the U.S.