Pages 218-219

INFORMATION FROM THE EPO

Decisions of the President of the EPO

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 23 January 2008 concerning the EPO Online Filing software to be used for the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents

Further to the decision dated 12 July 2007 concerning the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents1, and having regard to Rule 2 EPC and Rule 89bis.1 and 2 PCT, the President of the European Patent Office has decided as follows:

Article 1

Software to be used for electronic filing

(1) Electronic filings in accordance with Article 4 of the above-mentioned decision dated 12 July 2007 shall be made using version 3.20 (eOLF v3.20 (3.80_1.189e)) or later releases of the EPO Online Filing software.

(2) Electronic filings using pre-eOLF v3.20 versions of the software will not be accepted by the Office's receiving server.

Article 2

International (PCT) applications

Article 1 shall not apply to international (PCT) applications filed in electronic form with the European Patent Office as receiving Office under the PCT. Such applications prepared and filed using PCT-SAFE or pre-eOLF v.3.20 versions of the EPO Online Filing software will be accepted by the Office's receiving server.

Article 3

Entry into force

This decision shall enter into force on 1 October 2008.

Done at Munich, 23 January 2008

Alison BRIMELOW

President