Chapter I – Languages of the European Patent Office
Rule 2
Derogations from the provisions concerning the language of the proceedings in oral proceedings
A revised version of the European Patent Convention entered into force on 13 December 2007. The provisions of the revised Convention apply unless the transitional provisions provide for the applicability of the EPC 1973. |
(1) 2 Any party to oral proceedings before the European Patent Office may, in lieu of the language of the proceedings, use one of the other official languages of the European Patent Office, on condition either that such party gives notice to the European Patent Office at least one month before the date laid down for such oral proceedings or makes provision for interpreting into the language of the proceedings. Any party may likewise use one of the official languages of the Contracting States, on condition that he makes provision for interpretation into the language of the proceedings. The European Patent Office may permit derogations from the provisions of this paragraph.
(2) In the course of oral proceedings, the employees of the European Patent Office may, in lieu of the language of the proceedings, use one of the other official languages of the European Patent Office.
(3) In the case of taking of evidence, any party to be heard, witness or expert who is unable to express himself adequately in one of the official languages of the European Patent Office or the Contracting States may use another language. Should the taking of evidence be decided upon following a request by a party to the proceedings, parties to be heard, witnesses or experts who express themselves in languages other than the official languages of the European Patent Office may be heard only if the party who made the request makes provision for interpretation into the language of the proceedings; the European Patent Office may, however, authorise interpretation into one of its other official languages.
(4) If the parties and the European Patent Office agree, any language may be used in oral proceedings.
(5) The European Patent Office shall, if necessary, make provision at its own expense for interpretation into the language of the proceedings, or, where appropriate, into its other official languages, unless this interpretation is the responsibility of one of the parties to the proceedings.
(6) 3 Statements by employees of the European Patent Office, by parties to the proceedings and by witnesses and experts, made in one of the official languages of the European Patent Office during oral proceedings shall be entered in the minutes in the language employed. Statements made in any other language shall be entered in the official language into which they are translated. Amendments to the text of the description or claims of a European patent application or European patent shall be entered in the minutes in the language of the proceedings.
2Amended by decision of the Administrative Council of 10.06.1988 which entered into force on 01.10.1988 (OJ EPO 1988, 290).
3Amended by decision of the Administrative Council of 05.07.1991 which entered into force on 01.10.1991 (OJ EPO 1991, 421).