2.4. Amendments under Rule 137(3) EPC

Under Art. 123(1) EPC, a European patent application or a European patent may be amended in proceedings before the EPO, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations.

Before receiving the European search report, the applicant may not amend the description, claims or drawings of a European patent application unless otherwise provided (R. 137(1) EPC). Together with any comments, corrections or amendments made in response to communications by the European Patent Office under R. 70a(1) EPC or R. 70a(2) EPC, or R. 161(1) EPC, the applicant may amend the description, claims and drawings of his own volition (R. 137(2) EPC.

R. 137(3) EPC stipulates that no further amendment may be made without the consent of the examining division.