f) Appointment of professional representative 

In J 20/96 the EPO had waited one year and three months before requesting the appointment of a professional representative and nearly another year before asking for the appellant's new address. Although conceding that the Receiving Section had been slow to request the appointment of a professional representative, the Legal Board ruled that this was not a substantial procedural violation because such appointments were a matter for the appellant; similarly, it was also up to him or his representative to provide his address.