5.3 Designation filed in a separate document 

Where filed in a separate document, the designation must contain the inventor's family name, given names and country and place of residence. The place of residence is the city or municipality, i.e. not the province or region, where the inventor permanently resides and should preferably include the postal code (see the notice from the EPO dated 22 February 2021, OJ EPO 2021, A12). The country and place of residence may also be that of the inventor's employer (e.g. a company). The designation must contain the statement, referred to in Art. 81, indicating the origin of the right to the patent and the signature of the applicant or the appointed representative.

In the case of assignment, the words "by agreement dated ..." suffice. For inventions by employees, it is sufficient to mention that the inventor(s) is/are employee(s) of the applicant(s) and for cases of succession that the applicant(s) is/are heir(s) of the inventor(s).

The designation of inventor must be signed by the applicant or the appointed representative. With regard to the signature, the provisions set out in A‑VIII, 3.2 to A‑VIII, 3.4, apply.

The EPO does not verify the accuracy of the information given in the designation of the inventor but checks whether the designated inventor is a natural person (J 8/20).

If the designation of inventor is filed subsequently, the requirements set out in A‑VIII, 3.1 apply.