List of sections amended in 2025 revision

GENERAL PART

General Part, 1.1

New section on relationship between the PCT and EPC

PART A

A‑II, 4.1.1

New section on transmittal of the international application to the ISA and IB

A‑III, 3

Addition of information about EPO Contingency Upload Service as an exceptional means of filing debit orders

A‑III, 4.4.1

New section on fee for establishment and transmittal of a certified copy of priority documents to the IB

A‑IV, 3

New section on applications disclosing nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences

A‑VI, 1.7
A‑VI, 1.8
A‑VI, 2
A‑VI, 3
A‑VI, 4

New sections on provision of priority document, certified copies of international applications, designation of states and designation of inventors

A‑VI, 2.1
A‑VI, 3.1
A‑VI, 3.2

New sub-sections on extension states, validation states and non-designation for reasons of national law

A‑VII, 1.2.4

New sub-section on sequence listings

A‑VII, 2.3.1
A‑VII, 2.3.2
A‑VII, 2.3.3

New sub-section on language of international applications, amendments and demands

A‑VIII, 1.13

Update regarding new practice in relation to signing and filing authorisations

PART B

B‑II, 1.1

New sub-section on competences of the EPO as ISA

B‑X, 11.1
B‑X, 12
B‑XII, 9

Update regarding new practice in relation to access to patent literature documents in search and examination proceedings

PART C

C‑II, 1.1
C‑II, 1.1.1

New sub-sections on the time limit for filing the demand and for delaying national phase entry

C‑II, 13

New section on language requirements

C‑IV, 1.1

New sub-section on subject-matter which the IPEA is not required to examine

C‑IV, 5.3

Update regarding new practice in relation to access to patent literature documents in search and examination proceedings

PART E

E‑III, 1

Addition of Chile and New Zealand to list of the EPO’s PPH partner offices

E‑IV

New chapter on time limits in the international phase

E‑V

New chapter on external complaints

E‑VI

New chapter on notification of communications

GENERAL PART

General Part, 1
General Part, 2.5

Introduction of more consistent abbreviations

General Part, 2.1

Addition of reference to the footnote

General Part, 2.3

Deletion of outdated information

General Part, 2.4

Clarification on “Agreement EPO-WIPO”

General Part, 2.6

Addition of reference to missing forms

General Part, 3.1

Addition of reference to EPC and PCT rules and articles

PART A

A‑II, 1.1

Update regarding filing with the EPO as receiving Office in the case of two or more applicants

A‑II, 1.2
A‑VIII, 2.3

Update regarding change in relation to international applications sent by fax (no longer accepted by the EPO)

A‑II, 1.2.1

Update regarding requirements for documents filed electronically

A‑II, 1.2.2
A‑VIII, 2.2

Deletion of section to reflect the abolition of fax as a means of filing

A‑II, 1.2.2

Update regarding sub-offices and non-availability of automatic mailboxes

A‑II, 1.2.3

Addition of information about legal effect of filing of applications by means other than the means referred to in A‑II, 1.2.1 and A‑II, 1.2.2

A‑II, 1.3

Clarification on priority documents issued in paper form

A‑II, 1.5
A‑II, 3.1

Deletion of redundant information referring to fax filings and web-form filing

A‑II, 3.2

Update regarding selection of the EPO as receiving office

A‑II, 4.1

Update regarding “international filing date”

A‑II, 6.2

Clarification on calculation of the international filing fee

A‑III, 4.4.2

New section on fee for a certified copy of priority document

A‑III, 7.5

Clarification on procedure in the case of absence of a validly filed demand

A‑III, 8.1.2

Addition of reference to the WIPO website

A‑III, 8.2

Addition of term “supplementary” in the title and the text

A‑III, 9

Update regarding further digitalisation of the fee refund procedure

A‑III, 9.2.1.1

Update regarding refund of the international search fee

A‑VI, 1.5

Update regarding decision by the RO on a request for restoration of the right of priority

A‑VI, 1.6

Deletion of redundant information relating to transfer of the priority right

A‑VII, 2.1

Clarification on language of translation when applications are not filed in a PCT language

A‑VII, 3.1

Clarification on practice concerning the language of proceedings when the EPO did not act as RO

A‑VII, 3.2

Restructured section – content moved from B‑XI, 2.2

A‑VIII, 1.10

Addition of reference to EPC Guidelines

A‑VIII, 3.1

Clarification on applicant’s signature

A‑VIII, 3.2

Clarification on signing of power of attorney by the applicant

PART B

B‑II, 6

Clarification on possible representation of applicants by a person having the right to practise before the receiving office

B‑III, 2.10
B‑VIII, 3.2
B‑XI, 7

Addition of reference to OJ EPO 2024 A54, A55 regarding applicable version of Standard ST.26

B‑VII, 1

Clarification on practice regarding possibility of filing a divisional application

B‑VII, 6.1

Update regarding practice in relation to international preliminary examination

B‑VIII, 1

Update regarding missing sequence listings and lack of unity of invention

B‑VIII, 2

Clarification on cases where the EPO is not required to perform an international search

B‑VIII, 2.2

Clarification on the EPO's practice as ISA with regard to methods of doing business

B‑VIII, 2.2.1

Deletion of redundant information

B‑VIII, 3

Clarification on practice regarding unsearchable claims

B‑VIII, 3.3

Update in view of Article 17(2)(a)(ii) PCT

B‑XI, 2.2

Restructured section – content moved to A‑VII, 3.2

B‑XI, 8

Clarification on practice regarding form of dialogue between applicants and ISA

B‑XII, 2

Clarification on practice concerning the provision of the relevant documents in an electronic format complying with Annex C to the Administrative Instructions

PART C

C‑II, 1

Deletion of passage to reflect the abolition of fax as a means of filing

C‑II, 2

Clarification on the EPO as IPEA

C‑II, 5

Update regarding representation before the EPO as IPEA

C‑II, 6

Update regarding information on valid withdrawal of designation

C‑II, 7

Update regarding practice in relation to missing signatures

C‑II, 8

Clarification on amendments filed before preliminary examination

C‑II, 10

Clarification on practice in relation to signature of all applicants

C‑II, 11

Addition of information regarding the international preliminary examination in the absence of fee payments

C‑IV, 1

Update regarding “second written opinion”

C‑IV, 2.1

Update regarding “first written opinion”

C‑IV, 2.2

Update regarding written opinions during international preliminary examination

C‑IV, 5

Update regarding the purpose of top-up searches

C‑VI, 1

Addition of reference to Box No. IV of the PCT demand form PCT/IPEA/401

C‑VII, 1

Update regarding requests for consultation by telephone

C‑VIII, 2.1

Restructured section

PART E

E‑II

Clarification on accelerated proceedings in the case of third-party observations

PART F

F‑II, 6
F‑VI, 3.3

Deletion of reference to Euro-PCT Guide

F‑III, 6.3

Update regarding the availability of biological material (title and content)

PART G

G‑IV, 1
G‑IV, 6

Adaptation to long-standing practice regarding non-written disclosure (PCT Assembly Doc. A/56/2, Annex V, p.3)

PART H

H‑I, 5

Update regarding replacement of claims when amendments are filed

H‑I, 6

Addition of a list of possible indicated amendments

H‑II, 2.2.2.2

Clarification on granted request for incorporation by reference of missing element or part

H‑II, 3

Deletion of section to align with deletion of EPC Guidelines content referenced

H‑IV, 1

Clarification on practice concerning procedure for EPO as ISA if substitute sheets under Rule 26 PCT go beyond the disclosure on the filing date

H‑IV, 2.1

Update regarding language requirements for error corrections (A‑VII, 3.1)

PART A

A‑II, 1.4; A‑II, 4.2; A‑II,6; A‑II, 6.1; A‑III, 4.2; A‑III, 4.3; A‑III, 4.4.1; A‑III, 5.1; A‑III, 5.2; A‑III, 5.3; A‑III, 6.3; A‑III, 7.1; A‑III, 7.2; A‑III, 7.2.1; A‑III, 7.3; A‑III, 7.4; A‑III, 8.1.1.1; A‑III, 8.1.1.2; A‑III, 8.1.1.3; A‑III, 9.1; A‑III, 9.2; A‑III, 9.2.1.2; A‑III, 9.2.1.3; A‑III, 9.3; A‑III, 9.4; A‑III, 9.5; A‑III, 9.7; A‑III, 9.8; A‑IV, 1.1; A‑IV, 1.4; A‑IV, 2.2; A‑IV, 2.3; A‑IV, 2.5; A‑V, 1.1; A‑V, 1.2; A‑V, 7.1; A‑V, 8; A‑V, 10; A‑VI, 1; A‑VI 1.2; A‑VI, 1.3; A‑VI, 1.4; A‑VI, 1.4.1; A‑VI, 1.4.2; A‑VII, 1.2.3.2; A‑VII, 3.4; A‑VII, 5; A‑VIII, 1.2; A‑VIII, 1.4; A‑VIII, 1.5; A‑VIII, 1.7; A‑VIII, 1.8; A‑VIII, 1.11; A‑VIII, 1.12; A‑VIII, 1.13; A‑VIII, 2.4; A‑VIII, 3.3; A‑VIII, 3.4

PART B

B‑II, 4; B‑III, 1.3; B‑III, 1.4; B‑III, 2.1; B‑III, 2.2.1; B‑III, 2.3.1; B‑III, 2.3.2; B‑III, 2.3.3; B‑III, 2.7; B‑III, 2.10; B‑III, 2.11; B‑III, 2.12; B‑IV, 1.1; B‑IV, 1.2; B‑IV, 1.2.1; B‑IV, 1.2.2; B‑IV, 1.3; B‑VI, 1; B‑VI, 2; B‑VI, 4.1; B‑VII, 2; B‑VII, 4; B‑VII, 6.3; B‑VII, 7.1; B‑VII, 7.2; B‑VII, 8; B‑VIII, 2.1; B‑VIII, 3.1; B‑VIII, 3.2; B‑VIII, 3.3.1; B‑VIII, 4; B‑IX, 2.2; B‑X, 1; B‑X, 2; B‑X, 7; B‑X, 8; B‑X, 9.2.4; B‑XI, 2; B‑XI, 2.1; B‑XI,3.2.2; B‑XI, 3.4; B‑XI, 4; B‑XI, 4.1; B‑XI, 4.2; B‑XI, 5; B‑XI, 6; B‑XI, 7; B‑XII, 5; B‑XII, 7; B‑XII, 10.1; B‑XII, 10.2; B‑XII, 10.4; B‑XII, 11

PART C

C‑III, 1; C‑III, 2; C‑III, 3; C‑IV, 2.3; C‑IV, 2.5; C‑IV, 4.1; C‑IV, 4.2; C‑IV, 5.2; C‑IV, 5.4; C‑V, 1; C‑V, 4.3; C‑V, 5.2; C‑VI, 3; C‑VI, 2; C‑VI, 3; C‑VIII, 2; C‑VIII, 3; C‑VIII, 4; C‑IX, 1; C‑IX, 4

PART E

E‑III, 2; E‑III, 3

PART F

F‑II, 4.4; F‑II, 4.13; F‑II, 5.2; F‑II, 6; F‑II, 7.2; F‑II, 7.4; F‑III, 1; F‑III, 3; F‑III, 4; F‑III, 5.1; F‑III, 5.2; F‑III, 7; F‑III, 8; F‑III, 10; F‑III, 11; F‑IV, 1; F‑IV, 2.1; F‑IV, 3.1; F‑IV, 3.2; F‑IV, 3.4; F‑IV, 3.6; F‑IV, 3.8.2; F‑IV, 4.8; F‑IV, 4.10; F‑IV, 4.11; F‑IV, 4.13; F‑IV, 4.19; F‑IV, 4.21; F‑IV, 4.22; F‑IV, 4.23; F‑IV, 5; F‑IV, 6.1; F‑IV, 6.3; F‑IV, 6.4; F‑IV, 6.5; F‑V, 1; F‑V, 2; F‑V, 3; F‑VI, 1; F‑VI, 1.2; F‑VI, 1.3; F‑VI, 2.2; F‑VI, 3.1; F‑VI, 3.7

PART G

G‑II, 1; G‑II, 3.1; G‑II, 3.2; G‑II, 3.3; G‑II, 3.4; G‑II, 3.5; G‑II, 3.6; G‑II, 3.7; G‑II, 4.1; G‑II, 4.2; G‑II, 5.2; G‑II, 5.3; G‑II, 5.4; G‑II, 5.5; G‑IV, 2; G‑IV, 3; G‑IV, 4; G‑IV, 5.1; G‑IV, 6.2; G‑IV, 6.2.2; G‑IV, 6.4; G‑IV, 6.5; G‑IV, 8; G‑VI, 7.1; G‑VI, 8; G‑VII, 2; G‑VII, 3.1; G‑VII, 5.1; G‑VII, 5.2; G‑VII, 5.4; G‑VII, 5.4.1; G‑VII, 5.4.2; G‑VII, 6; G‑VII, 10.1; G‑VII, 10.2; G‑VII, 11

PART H

H‑I, 1; H‑I, 2; H‑I, 3; H‑I, 4; H‑II, 1; H‑II, 2.2.2; H‑II, 2.2.3; H‑II, 2.2.4; H‑III, 5; H‑IV, 2.2; H‑IV, 2.3