INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
Notice from the European Patent Office dated 25 June 2007, regarding the automatic exchange of priority documents between the European Patent Office and the Korean Intellectual Property Office
The European Patent Office is pleased to announce that as of 1 July 2007, it implemented automatic electronic exchange of priority documents with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), for first filings at KIPO and first filings at the EPO.
To qualify for this service, which is free of charge and not subject to any formalities on the part of the applicant, the European patent application or the Korean national patent or utility model application claiming priority from a first filing in the other office must have been filed on or after 1 July 2007.
Please note that, for the time being, on the EPO side, such exchange is limited to priority documents originating from first filings at the EPO. It is intended to extend such automated priority document exchange to priority documents emanating from first filings in the national patent offices of the EPC Contracting States, which are already contained in the electronic files of the EPO, once this can be done technically seamlessly and without further formalities on the part of applicants. Applicants will be advised in due time as to when this additional service will be offered by the EPO.