2. Search division 

The search division is responsible for:

– drafting extended European search reports, i.e. European search reports under Art. 92 and accompanying search opinions under Rule 62(1)

– drafting all of the different types of search report referred to in B‑I, 1 and B‑II, 4

– issuing any invitation under Rule 62a(1) (see also B‑VIII, 4) to clarify – or, where necessary, limit the subject-matter to be searched

– issuing any invitation under Rule 63(1) (see B‑VIII, 3.1).

In cases of lack of unity, it also draws up a partial search report and a provisional opinion on the patentability of the invention or unitary group of inventions first mentioned in the claims (see F‑V, 3.4), which includes the reasons for the non-unity findings, and issues an invitation to pay further search fees under Rule 64(1) or Rule 164(1) (see B‑VII, 1.2 and B‑XI, 5).

The member of the search division responsible for the search on a European application is normally also the first member of the examining division for that application.