3.10.2 Involvement of parties other than the petitioner in petition for review proceedings

Parties other than the petitioner are not to be involved in the first stage of petition for review proceedings (R. 109(3) EPC; R 7/14). In R 5/08 the Enlarged Board held that non-petitioner parties, as long as they are not involved, have no right to be heard that could be violated. Although not summoned to oral proceedings in the first stage, non-petitioner parties may, however, attend such proceedings which are public.