4.8.4 Change of ownership

In T 1170/12 the board stated that a change of ownership or representation did not normally justify late amendments or a divergence from subject-matter previously claimed. The new owner takes over the application in the state that it is in at the time of transfer of ownership. The EPO and the public must be able to rely on the steps taken by an applicant, even if the application is subsequently transferred, or the applicant changes representative.