In what context should post-PLTIA law be used according to PLTIA?

The correct answer indicates that post-PLTIA law should be applied to all applications regardless of their filing date. This reflects the comprehensive nature of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act (PLTIA), which aimed to modernize and harmonize patent laws. The PLTIA was enacted to ensure compliance with international treaties, particularly concerning certain provisions related to patentability and procedural aspects.

Under the PLTIA, the changes introduced are intended to apply universally to all patent applications, thereby affecting both pending and future applications. This broad applicability ensures consistency across the patent system and simplifies the legal framework for practitioners and applicants alike.

In contrast, limiting the application of post-PLTIA law to only those applications filed after a specific date would create a bifurcated system. This could lead to confusion and uncertainty in how the law is applied to patents filed under different regimes, undermining the harmonization objective of the PLTIA. Hence, the intent of the legislation is to ensure that patent law remains uniform and directly applicable to all applications without distinction based on their filing date.