INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
List of holidays observed by EPO filing offices and the national patent authorities in 2005
The French Patent Office (INPI) has informed us that, in addition to the list of holidays published in OJ EPO 2005, 60, it will be closed this year on 6 May, 15 July and 31 October.
However, contrary to the above-mentioned list, the INPI will be open on Whit Monday, 16 May 2005.
Under Rule 85(1) EPC, time limits expiring on a day on which at least one of the filing offices of the EPO is not open for receipt of documents are extended until the first day thereafter on which all the filing offices are open for receipt of documents.
Under Rule 85(3) EPC, the provisions of Rule 85(1) EPC apply also to time limits provided for in the EPC within which transactions are carried out with the central industrial property office or other competent authority of the contracting state.