Is a translation of the international application required?
Overview
4.1.11.Is a translation of the international application required?
4.1.041If neither the language in which the international application was filed nor the language in which the application was published is one of the official languages of the EPO (English, French and German), the applicant must within the time limit for filing the demand also file a translation in one of these languages with the EPO as IPEA.
R. 55.2 PCT
OJ 1993, 540
WIPO PCT Guide 10.011
4.1.042This situation occurs, for instance, if the international application was filed in Spanish, and the Spanish Patent Office acted as ISA. However, if the international application was filed in Spanish but the EPO acted as ISA, the applicant need not furnish a translation to the EPO as IPEA because the international preliminary examination will be carried out on the basis of the translation already furnished for the purposes of international search (see point 3.1.015).
4.1.043Any amendments filed during the international preliminary examination must be submitted in the language of proceedings before the EPO as IPEA. If they are initially not submitted in that language, the applicant must file a translation.
R. 55.3 PCT
WIPO PCT Guide 10.055