2.2.3.How can an international application be filed online? 

2.2.004Applicants can currently choose from various online filing options offered by the EPO and WIPO. The ones offered by the EPO are: 

–Online Filing (version 5.13 or later), a software application that authenticates users via smart card and can be used to prepare and file international applications and further documents (alternatively, applications and further documents prepared in Online Filing can then be filed on electronic data carriers accepted by the EPO; see point 2.2.009);

–Online Filing 2.0, a web-based system accessible from most browsers that authenticates users via smart card. It is interoperable with WIPO's ePCT service, with ePCT embedded into Online Filing 2.0 for filling in and validating PCT/RO/101, PCT-DEMAND and PCT-SFD. Review, signing and submitting as well as saving drafts or storing signed applications in encrypted format is done within Online Filing 2.0 on a secure network hosted by the EPO. It is not necessary to install any software except for the smart card; and 

–Web-form filing, a browser-based system which allows applicants to log on with a username and password in order to upload and submit PDFs via a secure internet connection; such PDFs need to comply with Part 7 of the Administrative Instructions under the PCT and their Annex F. 

2.2.008The online filing of an international application with the EPO as receiving Office triggers the electronic acknowledgement of receipt. The acknowledgement indicates the receiving Office, the date and time of receipt, the reference or application number allocated by the EPO, the list of the files transmitted and a message digest, i.e. the message in compressed form. For international applications filed using web-form filing, EPO Form 1031 is sent in addition to the electronic acknowledgment of receipt (see point 2.2.020).