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Pages 597-598

Citation: OJ EPO 1992, 597
Online publication date: 31.10.1992
INFORMATION FROM THE EPO

Notice of the European Patent Office dated 12 August 1992 concerning a reprint of the Request for Grant form

1. The Request for Grant form is being reprinted under reference "EPA/EPO/OEB Form 1001 08.92" with the same numbering and layout as before, but with a number of amendments1.

2. Comments on the amendments are made below.

3. As the form will have to be amended yet again when the new Rule 27a EPC enters into force on 1 January 1993 (OJ EPO 1992, 342), the 08.92 version will not be published in the Official Journal.

4. The old form (reference "EPA/EPO/OEB Form 1001 12.91") is still valid. When the revised form is published on 1 January 1993, both the 12.91 and the 08.92 versions will be cancelled; under a transitional arrangement they may however continue to be used for six months.

5. Applicants whose applications are affected by the amendments are, however, recommended to switch over to the reprinted form straight away, in order to avoid prejudicing their rights. Orders for the reprinted form should take account of the short period for which it will be valid.

Comments on the reprinted Request for Grant form

The reprinted form contains the following amendments:

  • In Section 5 (right-hand column) the applicant's attention is drawn to the altered legal position by the insertion of the words "Request for examination in an admissible non-EPO language (see Notes II, 5):". Following Decision G 6/91 of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the examination fee is reduced only if the written request for examination is filed in the admissible non-EPO language at the same time as the Request for Grant2.
  • Sections 33 and 34 take account of Ireland's ratification of the European Patent Convention, with effect from 1 August 1992.
  • A number of amendments have been made to the wording of the English version of Section 34.
  • On the "Receipt for documents" to be completed by the applicant (page 5 of the form), an additional box has been inserted under B.5. and 6. to enable the amount and currency of the enclosed voucher for the settlement of fees (EPO Form 1010) or cheque, if applicable, to be indicated. Completion of this box is optional.

The amendments made to the form are taken into account in the revised Notes bearing reference date 08.92.

 

1 The old form bears reference "EPA/EPO/OEB Form 1001 12.91" and was published in OJ EPO 1991, 605. The 08.92 reprint is available free of charge from the EPO in Munich, The Hague, Berlin and Vienna as well as from the central industrial property offices of the Contracting States.

2 See in this connection Decision G 6/91 of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, OJ EPO 1992, 491, and Notice from the EPO dated 3 July 1992 concerning an amendment to the Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office (OJ EPO 1992, 467).