6.5.3 Deficiencies in the priority claim and loss of the priority right 

Four potential deficiencies exist with regard to the priority claim, namely:

(i)failure to indicate a date of the previous application or to indicate the correct date 

(ii)failure to indicate a state or WTO member in or for which it was filed or to indicate the correct state or WTO member 

(iii)failure to supply a file number 

(iv)failure to indicate the correct file number. 

Deficiencies (i) and (ii) can only be corrected in accordance with the procedures and within the time limit indicated in A‑III, 6.5.2. Failure to correct either of these deficiencies in time results in loss of the priority right in question according to Art. 90(5). Further processing does not apply to the time limit under Rule 52(3), since it is ruled out by Rule 135(2).

However, where applicants have failed to indicate the file number of the previous application (deficiency (iii)), as required by Rule 52(1), before expiry of the 16-month time limit laid down in Rule 52(2), they are invited by the EPO to provide it within a two-month period under Rule 59. This period can be extended under Rule 132(2) (see E‑IX, 2.3.5 for Euro-PCT applications), but further processing is ruled out by Rule 135(2). Failure to reply in time to this communication results in the loss of the priority right in question according to Art. 90(5).

If the applicant has failed to indicate the correct file number of the priority application (deficiency (iv)), a request for correction under Rule 139 can be filed (see A‑V, 3).