Chapter IX – Information to the public
Rule 145178
Procedures for the inspection of files
(1) Inspection of the files of European patent applications and patents shall either be of the original document, or of copies thereof, or of technical means of storage if the files are stored in this way.
(2) The President of the European Patent Office shall determine all file-inspection arrangements, including the circumstances in which an administrative fee is payable.
178See decision of the President of the EPO of 20.02.2019 on the inspection of files (OJ EPO 2019, A16) and decision of the President of the EPO of 20.02.2019 concerning online file inspection of documents contained in the file held by the EPO as receiving Office, International Searching Authority or Authority specified for supplementary search (OJ EPO 2019, A17).