3.1 Documents filed after filing the European patent application 

All documents, other than annexes, filed after filing the European patent application must be signed by the person responsible. Under Art. 133, only the applicant or the authorised representative may act in the European patent grant procedure (see A‑VIII, 1.6). Documents filed after filing the European patent application may therefore be effectively signed only by these persons.

Documents such as the priority document or its translation must be accompanied by a cover letter or at least bear a note on the document itself addressed to the EPO and duly signed by a person authorised to act before the EPO. This also applies, for example, to the designation of inventor if this has been signed by an applicant with neither residence nor principal place of business in one of the EPC contracting states. As regards the authorisation, see A‑VIII, 1.6. The signature of the entitled person confirming performance of a written act of procedure helps to clarify the state of the proceedings. It shows whether the act of procedure has been validly performed and also prevents circumvention of the provisions relating to representation. EPO Form 1038 (letter accompanying subsequently filed items) may also be used as a separate letter. A separate form must be used for each file (see the notice from the EPO dated 8 November 1990, OJ EPO 1991, 64). The same applies when, instead of using EPO Form 1038, the applicant submits an accompanying letter with the document in question (see also A‑VIII, 2.4). In the case of electronic filing, several documents for a file can be attached to a single EPO Form 1038E.

EPO Form 1037 can be used for the subsequent filing on paper, at the same time, of items relating to several applications, but without signature. EPO Form 1037 is merely an acknowledgment. Its use is particularly recommended for subsequent filing of documents already bearing the required signature (such as replies to communications).

Submissions filed electronically must be signed by an entitled person, although they may be transmitted using a smart card issued to another person. If the signature is omitted on a document not falling within the meaning of A‑VIII, 3.2, the EPO must invite the party concerned to sign it within a fixed time limit. This also applies if the document in question bears the signature of an unentitled person (e.g. the secretary of an authorised representative), a deficiency which for the purposes of the time limits under way is treated as equivalent to omission of the signature of an entitled person. If signed in due time, the document retains its original date of receipt; otherwise it is deemed not received. Likewise, documents filed electronically must be signed by an entitled person, although they may be transmitted using a smart card issued to another person. See also A‑VIII, 3.2 below.