1.4 "Representation" by an employee

Natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business in an EPC contracting state do not need to be represented by an agent in proceedings before the EPO acting as receiving Office, (S)ISA or IPEA. They may, however, act in these proceedings through an employee, who need not be an agent (GL/PCT‑EPO A‑VIII, 1.2) but who must be authorised (see GL/PCT‑EPO A‑VIII, 1.11, GL/PCT‑EPO A-VIII, 1.12, GL/PCT‑EPO A-VIII, 1.13).

This kind of "representation" has to be distinguished from representation by an agent. The actions of the employee are regarded as actions of the natural or legal person and communications from the EPO are therefore addressed to the applicant and not to the employee.