https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/services-and-activities/quality/quality-dashboard
Quality dashboard
The Quality dashboard presents our key performance indicators (KPIs) on quality and is updated regularly to show the progress we make. This will help provide all stakeholders with a transparent picture of quality in the patent granting process at the EPO.
KPIs Search and Written Opinion
Directorate Quality Audit, DQA
Search and Written Opinion: incorrect assessment of novelty or inventive step
Result 2024: 6.2%*
Goal 2024: < 5% *12 month rolling average, sample size 404 search products
Goal 2024: < 5% *12 month rolling average, sample size 404 search products
Directorate Quality Audit, DQA
Search: more relevant prior art found
Result 2024: 3.0%*
Goal 2024: < 4% *12 month rolling average, sample size 404 search products
Goal 2024: < 4% *12 month rolling average, sample size 404 search products
User Satisfaction Survey, USS
Users rating our search products as good or very good
Achievement 2022/23: 80%
Goal 2024/25: ≥ 80%
Goal 2024/25: ≥ 80%
% of audited files with findings - audits carried out by our Directorate Quality Audit on a random sample of search products delivered by the operational teams. More than one finding can apply to each audited product.
Our User Satisfaction Survey is carried out every two years by an independent contractor.
The 2022/2023 survey involved interviews with 7 000 users.
The next USS results will become available in 2025.
Our User Satisfaction Survey is carried out every two years by an independent contractor.
The 2022/2023 survey involved interviews with 7 000 users.
The next USS results will become available in 2025.
KPIs Examination
Directorate Quality Audit, DQA
Grants: incorrect assessment of novelty or inventive step
Results 2024: 6.8%*
Goal 2024: < 5% *12 month rolling average, sample size 984 grants
Goal 2024: < 5% *12 month rolling average, sample size 984 grants
Directorate Quality Audit, DQA
Grants: findings on added subject-matter
Result 2024: 5.9%*
Goal 2024: < 5% *12 month rolling average, sample size 984 grants
Goal 2024: < 5% *12 month rolling average, sample size 984 grants
User Satisfaction Survey, USS
Users rating our examination products as good or very good
Achievement 2022/23: 78%
Goal 2024/25: ≥ 80%
Goal 2024/25: ≥ 80%
Boards of Appeal outcomes (ex parte)
Decision of the Board to grant a patent, which sets aside a decision of an examining division to refuse a patent
Result 2023: 4.8%*
Goal 2026: < 4%
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to grant
Goal 2026: < 4%
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to grant
% of audited files with findings – audits carried out by our Directorate Quality Audit on a random sample of grants delivered by the operational teams. More than one finding can apply to each audited product.
Our User Satisfaction Survey is carried out every two years by an independent contractor.
The 2022/2023 survey involved interviews with 7 000 users.
The next USS results will become available in 2025.
Our User Satisfaction Survey is carried out every two years by an independent contractor.
The 2022/2023 survey involved interviews with 7 000 users.
The next USS results will become available in 2025.
KPI Opposition
Boards of Appeal outcomes (inter partes)
Decision of the Board to revoke a patent based on novelty, which sets aside an opposition decision to maintain a patent
Result 2023: 2.5%*
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to revoke based on novelty
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to revoke based on novelty
Boards of Appeal outcomes (inter partes)
Decision of the Board to revoke a patent based on inventive step, which sets aside an opposition decision to maintain a patent
Result 2023: 8.2%*
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to revoke based on inventive step
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to revoke based on inventive step
Boards of Appeal outcomes (inter partes)
Decision of the Board to revoke a patent based on added subject-matter, which sets aside an opposition decision to maintain a patent
Result 2023: 5%*
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to revoke based on added subject-matter
Goal 2028: < 3% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to revoke based on added subject-matter
Boards of Appeal outcomes (inter partes)
Decision of the Board to maintain a patent, which sets aside an opposition decision to revoke a patent
Result 2023: 1.7%*
Goal 2028: < 2% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to maintain a patent following appeal of opposition revocation decision
Goal 2028: < 2% *Percentage of proceedings settled in 2023 falling under RoP 2020 with decision to maintain a patent following appeal of opposition revocation decision
KPI Digitalisation
User Satisfaction Survey, USS
Users rating our online services as good or very good
Achievement 2022/23: 91%
Goal 2024/25: ≥ 91%
Goal 2024/25: ≥ 91%
Our User Satisfaction Survey is carried out every two years by an independent contractor.
The 2022/2023 survey involved interviews with 7 000 users.
The next USS results will become available in 2025.
The 2022/2023 survey involved interviews with 7 000 users.
The next USS results will become available in 2025.