INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
The EASY PROJECT enters the ß-testing phase
Background
In October 1992, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) decided to develop jointly software which will enable applicants to prepare patent applications in electronic form. This decision was taken within the framework of the on-going trilateral cooperation (the JPO, having already implemented electronic filing in Japan, is providing information and advice to its trilateral partners). The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) was invited to participate in this project and in November 1992, the three organisations signed an agreement to develop software called EASY (Electronic Application SYstem) which will enable applicants to prepare European, US and PCT International patent applications in electronic form.
The objectives were to improve the service offered by the EPO, USPTO and WIPO to the world applicant community by developing an easy, safe and cost effective way to prepare and handle European, US and PCT international patent applications filed on diskette. The eventual goal of the EASY project is the on-line filing of patent applications by applicants.
Development
During 1993, a package for applicants was developed which covers the entry of forms data, equivalent to the paper "Request for grant" and related forms. An externally prepared word processor file containing the application documents is then "attached" to the bibliographic data and both files are stored on a filing diskette. (Applicants are also encouraged to import any drawings into the word processor files using the facilities offered by WordPerfect or Word).
In addition, this package contains such items as the installation program, forms data validation, electronic sealing, help information and print capabilities.
The initial target hardware platform, decided upon after a survey amongst some 400 applicants, will be PCs running WINDOWS (3.1 or later versions). The EPO will initially accept word processor files prepared using WordPerfect and Microsoft Word. In principle, any hardware capable of running the above packages should be sufficient.
The results of the user survey also enabled us to select a core group of applicants and representatives which helped us greatly through its many suggestions during the development of EASY in 1993.
ß-test version
The ß-test version was made available during June 1994 and sent to a selected group of users for intensive testing of the software. The testing group should gradually increase from 10 to about 100 companies within a period of one year and will eventually represent a balanced mixture of all branches of activity and EPC Member States.
The first version will only be available in English; French and German versions will follow later. At first, the ß-test will be conducted on applications received directly at the EPO. It is planned that national offices acting as receiving Offices for European patent applications will take part in the test at a later stage .
During the ß-test phase, special provisions will apply to those European patent applications prepared by means of the EASY software (EASY applications). These will mainly concern the presentation of the application documents, the preparation of the word processor file and the filing of the application.
The essential differences can be summarised as follows:
- it will not be necessary to file a written request for grant on EPO Form 1001. A special form - EPO Form 1001E - is printed by the EASY software after completion of the patent application in electronic form on the applicant's PC.
EPO Form 1001E will be similar to EPO Form 1001 in its basic content but not in its format and it will only contain items directly related to that application, for instance the text on micro-organisms (Boxes 26 to 30 of EPO Form 1001) with the corresponding data will only be generated if the invention relates to and/or uses a micro-organism.
- the print-out of the request for grant - EPO Form 1001E - duly signed by the applicant or his representative and one paper copy of the technical documents will constitute the authentic version of the application and will have to be accompanied by a floppy disk containing at least the request for grant, the description and the claims corresponding to the paper documents in the prescribed electronic format.
- if required and available at the time of filing, a separate designation of inventor will no longer be required, as the information can be entered using the EASY software and is then printed as part of EPO Form 1001E.
- until further notice, EASY applications must be filed at the EPO in The Hague directly.
Future developments
Once the large-scale test proves satisfactory, the necessary amendments to the EPC Implementing Regulations will be submitted to the Administrative Council for approval and the EASY system, if adopted, will offer an additional way of filing European patent applications.
Further information on the EASY project test phase can be obtained by writing to Noël Campling, at the EPO The Hague or contacting the
EASY Helpdesk
Tel. (+31-70) 3402669
Fax: (+31-70) 3403975
E-mail:CompuServe 100336, 3413
Internet n1epo7qp@IBMMAIL.COM