| Preface | 1 | PDF | |
| A. FILING OF EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the designation of the EPO filing offices Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, A.1 | 4-5 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 26 February 2009 concerning the electronic filing of documents OJ EPO 2009, 182 | 6-10 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 8 February 2010 concerning the EPO Online Filing software to be used for the electronic filing of documents OJ EPO 2010, 226 | 11-12 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the electronic signatures, data carriers and software to be used for the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, A.5 | 13-14 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the filing of patent applications and other documents by facsimile Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, A.3 | 15-19 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 14 July 2007 concerning the application of Rule 133 EPC on the late receipt of documents Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, I.1 | 20-21 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 14 September 2009 concerning the filing of a certified copy of an earlier application to which reference is made OJ EPO 2009, 486 | 22-23 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the electronic filing of European patent applications with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, A.6 | 24-26 | PDF | |
| B. PRIORITY |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 17 March 2009 on the filing of priority documents OJ EPO 2009, 236 | 28-29 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the filing of priority documents for European divisional applications and for new European patent applications under Article 61(1)(b) EPC Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, B.2 | 30-31 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 27 June 2007 concerning practical aspects of the electronic exchange of priority documents between the EPO and the USPTO OJ EPO 2007, 473 | 32-35 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 15 September 2004 concerning the electronic filing of priority documents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office OJ EPO 2004, 562 | 36-37 | PDF | |
| Notice from the President of the European Patent Office dated 26 January 1996 concerning the priority conferring effect of the "US provisional application for patent" OJ EPO 1996, 81 | 38 | PDF | |
| C. DIVISIONAL APPLICATIONS |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 20 August 2009 concerning amended Rule 36(1) and (2) EPC (European divisional applications) and consequential amendments to Rules 57(a) and 135(2) EPC OJ EPO 2009, 481 | 40-44 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 26 October 2009 on the establishment of the date of the examining division's first communication for calculation of the time limit under Rule 36(1)(a) EPC as from 1 April 2010 OJ EPO 2009, 601 | 45-46 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 29 June 2010 concerning communications under amended Rule 161 EPC OJ EPO 2010, 406 | 47-50 | PDF | |
| D. PROCEDURE BEFORE SEARCH, EXAMINING AND OPPOSITION DIVISIONS |
| D.1 Grant procedure in general |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the entrustment to non-examining staff of certain duties normally the responsibility of the examining or opposition divisions Version consolidating the text published in Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, F.2 with amendments published in OJ EPO 2009, 478 and OJ EPO 2010, 350 | 52-58 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 4 May 2010 concerning the programme for accelerated prosecution of European patent applications – "PACE" OJ EPO 2010, 352 | 59-63 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 18 December 2008 concerning oral proceedings before the EPO OJ EPO 2009, 68 | 64-66 | PDF | |
| Compensation and fees payable to witnesses and experts OJ EPO 1983, 100 | 67-71 | PDF | |
| D.3 Examination |
| Notice from the European Patent Office concerning non-attendance at oral proceedings before the examining division OJ EPO 2008, 471 | 72 | PDF | |
| D.4 Opposition |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 17 March 2008 concerning accelerated processing of oppositions where infringement proceedings have been instituted OJ EPO 2008, 221 | 73 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 3 June 2009 concerning the communication of parties' observations to the other parties in opposition proceedings for information OJ EPO 2009, 434 | 74 | PDF | |
| E. PATENTABILITY |
| E.1 State of the art |
| Notice from the European Patent Office concerning internet citations OJ EPO 2009, 456 | 76-82 | PDF | |
| International exhibitions as referred to in Article 55 EPC (OJ EPO 1979, 159; OJ EPO 1981, 221; OJ EPO 1983, 37; OJ EPO 1984, 51; OJ EPO 1985, 32; OJ EPO 1986, 43; OJ EPO 1987, 86; OJ EPO 1988, 159; OJ EPO 1989, 156; OJ EPO 1990, 183; OJ EPO 1991, 240; OJ EPO 1992, 202; OJ EPO 1993, 266; OJ EPO 1994, 276; OJ EPO 1995, 270; OJ EPO 1996, 246; OJ EPO 1997, 190; OJ EPO 1998, 230; OJ EPO 1999, 242; OJ EPO 2000, 224; OJ EPO 2001, 227; OJ EPO 2002, 228; OJ EPO 2003, 161; OJ EPO 2004, 223; OJ EPO 2005, 295; OJ EPO 2006, 326; OJ EPO 2007, 298; OJ EPO 2008, 266; OJ EPO 2009, 284; OJ EPO 2010, 280) | 83-89 | PDF | |
| E.2 Business methods |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 1 October 2007 concerning business methods OJ EPO 2007, 592 | 90-91 | PDF | |
| E.3 Computer-implemented inventions |
| Examination of computerimplemented inventions at the European Patent Office with particular attention to computerimplemented business methods OJ EPO 2007, 594 | 92-98 | PDF | |
| E.4 Biotechnology |
| E.4.1 Biological material Notice from the European Patent Office dated 7 July 2010 concerning inventions which involve the use of or concern biological material OJ EPO 2010, 498 | 99-114 | PDF | |
| E.4.2 Expert solution General conditions set by the President of the European Patent Office for the recognition of experts in accordance with Rule 28, paragraph 5(b), of the European Patent Convention (EPC) OJ EPO 1981, 359 | 115-121 | PDF | |
| E.4.3 Sequence listings Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the filing of sequence listings Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, C.1 | 122-124 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the filing of sequence listings Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, C.2 | 125-130 | PDF | |
| E.5 Further medical use |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 20 September 2010 concerning the non-acceptance of Swiss-type claims for second or further medical use following decision G 2/08 of the Enlarged Board of Appeal OJ EPO 2010, 514 | 131-132 | PDF | |
| F. PUBLICATION OF EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONS, PATENT SPECIFICATIONS AND PATENT CERTIFICATES |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the completion of technical preparations for the publication of European patent applications Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, D.1 | 134 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the content, form and means of communication of the certificate for a European patent Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, D.2 | 135-136 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the form of publication of European patent applications, European search reports and European patent specifications Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, D.3 | 137-138 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 on the summary listing of references cited by the applicant in European patent applications and European patent specifications Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, D.4 | 139 | PDF | |
| G. EUROPEAN PATENT REGISTER |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 14 October 2009 concerning the information given in the European Patent Register OJ EPO 2009, 598 | 142-144 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 15 August 2006 concerning the inspection of files and online consultation of the European Patent Register OJ EPO 2006, 535 | 145-148 | PDF | |
| H. LEGAL DIVISION |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning the responsibilities of the Legal Division Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, G.1 | 150-151 | PDF | |
| Notice of the Vice-President, Directorate-General 5 of the European Patent Office dated 5 July 1990 concerning correspondence with the Legal Division OJ EPO 1990, 404 | 152-153 | PDF | |
| I. BOARDS OF APPEAL |
| I.1 Rules of procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 7 December 2006 approving amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (CA/D 15/06) OJ EPO 2007, 303 | 156-165 | PDF | |
| I.2 Rules of procedure of the boards of appeal |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 25 October 2007 approving amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office (CA/D 35/07) OJ EPO 2007, 536 | 166-177 | PDF | |
| I.3 Notices concerning the appeal procedure |
| Notice from the Vice-President Directorate-General 3 dated 17 March 2008 concerning accelerated processing before the boards of appeal OJ EPO 2008, 220 | 178-179 | PDF | |
| Communication from the Vice President of Directorate-General 3 of the European Patent Office dated 16 July 2007 concerning the obligation to give notice pursuant to Rule 4(1), first sentence, EPC in proceedings before the boards of appeal of the EPO (use of an alternative official language in oral proceedings) Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, H.3 | 180 | PDF | |
| Notice of the Vice-President of Directorate-General 3 of the European Patent Office dated 16 July 2007 concerning oral proceedings before the boards of appeal of the EPO Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, H.1 | 181-182 | PDF | |
| Notice of the Vice-President of Directorate-General 3 of the European Patent Office dated 16 July 2007 concerning sound recording devices in oral proceedings before the boards of appeal of the EPO Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, H.2 | 183 | PDF | |
| J. FILE MAINTENANCE AND FILE INSPECTION |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning use of the PHOENIX electronic file system for the creation, maintenance and preservation of files Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, J.1 | 186-187 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 on the inspection of files Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, J.2 | 188-190 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 concerning documents excluded from file inspection Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, J.3 | 191-192 | PDF | |
| K. NOTIFICATION |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 14 July 2007 concerning public notification under Rule 129 EPC Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, K.1 | 194 | PDF | |
| L. REPRESENTATION |
| L.1 General |
| Regulation on the establishment of an institute of professional representatives before the European Patent Office Version consolidating the text published in OJ EPO 1997, 350 with amendments published in OJ EPO 2002, 429, OJ EPO 2004, 361 and OJ EPO 2007, 12 | 196-202 | PDF | |
| Code of Conduct of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office OJ EPO 2003, 523 | 203-208 | PDF | |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 10 December 2008 revising the Decision of 9 December 1983 determining the members of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office to whom Article 15 of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Patent Organisation applies (CA/D 31/08) OJ EPO 2009, 28 | 209-210 | PDF | |
| L.2 Authorisation |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 12 July 2007 on the filing of authorisations Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, L.1 | 211-212 | PDF | |
| L.3 European qualifying examination |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 10 December 2008 amending the Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives before the European Patent Office (CA/D 26/08) OJ EPO 2009, 9 | 213-230 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 5 February 2010 revising the basic fee for the European qualifying examination OJ EPO 2010, 132 | 231 | PDF | |
| L.4 Disciplinary matters |
| Regulation on discipline for professional representatives Version consolidating the text published in OJ EPO 1978, 91 with amendments published in OJ EPO 2008, 14 | 232-242 | PDF | |
| Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committee of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office Version consolidating the text published in OJ EPO 1980, 177 with amendments published in OJ EPO 2007, 552, 553 | 243-252 | PDF | |
| Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Board of the European Patent Office Version consolidating the text published in OJ EPO 1980, 183 with amendments published in OJ EPO 2007, 552, 555 | 253-260 | PDF | |
| Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office Version consolidating the text published in OJ EPO 1980, 188 with amendments published in OJ EPO 2007, 548 | 261-268 | PDF | |
| M. PCT |
| M.1 International phase |
| M.1.1 Agreement Agreement OJ EPO 2010, 304 | 270-281 | PDF | |
| M.1.2 Unity Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 24 March 2010 providing for review panels for the implementation of the protest and review procedures under the PCT OJ EPO 2010, 320 | 282-283 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 24 March 2010 concerning the protest and review procedures under the PCT OJ EPO 2010, 322 | 284-289 | PDF | |
| M.1.3 Refund/Reduction Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 24 March 2010 concerning the refund of the international search fee by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority OJ EPO 2010, 341 | 290-292 | PDF | |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 21 October 2008 concerning the reduction of the fees for the international search and the international preliminary examination carried out on international applications in favour of nationals of certain states (CA/D 7/08) OJ EPO 2008, 521 | 293-294 | PDF | |
| M.1.4 Sequence listings Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 26 March 2010 concerning the furnishing of sequence listings to the European Patent Office acting as international authority under the PCT OJ EPO 2010, 328 | 295-296 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 26 March 2010 concerning the furnishing of sequence listings to the European Patent Office acting as international authority under the PCT OJ EPO 2010, 330 | 297-301 | PDF | |
| M.1.5 Supplementary International Searches Notice from the European Patent Office dated 24 March 2010 concerning the carrying out of supplementary international searches under the PCT OJ EPO 2010, 316 | 302-306 | PDF | |
| M.1.6 International-type search Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 25 March 1999 concerning the carrying out of international-type searches and the setting of a new fee for such searches OJ EPO 1999, 300 | 307-308 | PDF | |
| M.1.7 Language of proceedings Notice from the President of the European Patent Office dated 18 June 1993 concerning the language of correspondence with the EPO as an international authority under the PCT OJ EPO 1993, 540 | 309 | PDF | |
| M.1.8 Late-payment fees Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 15 June 1992 concerning the latepayment fee under Rule 16bis.2 PCT OJ EPO 1982, 383 | 310 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 26 February 1998 concerning the late-payment fee under Rule 58bis.2 PCT OJ EPO 1998, 282 | 311 | PDF | |
| M.1.9 Waiver of power of attorney Notice from the European Patent Office dated 2 March 2010 concerning the waiver of power of attorney under Rule 90.4(d) and Rule 90.5(c) PCT OJ EPO 2010, 335 | 312-313 | PDF | |
| M.2 Regional phase |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 28 October 2009 dispensing with the supplementary European search where the international search report or a supplementary international search report was drawn up by the European Patent Office (CA/D 11/09) OJ EPO 2009, 594 | 314 | PDF | |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 28 October 2009 amending the Rules relating to Fees and adjusting the amount of the reduction in the fee for the supplementary European search where the international search report was drawn up by one of the European International Searching Authorities (CA/D 19/09) OJ EPO 2009, 587 | 315-316 | PDF | |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 28 October 2009 reducing the fee for the supplementary European search where a supplementary international search report was drawn up by the Austrian Patent Office, the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, the Swedish Patent and Registration Office or the Nordic Patent Institute (CA/D 12/09) OJ EPO 2009, 595 | 317-318 | PDF | |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 27 October 2005 concerning cases where the search fee for the supplementary European search is to be reduced OJ EPO 2005, 548 | 319 | PDF | |
| N. FEES |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 24 March 2010 concerning the refund of the search fee under Article 9(2) of the Rules relating to Fees OJ EPO 2010, 338 | 322-324 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 9 January 2009 concerning the criteria for refund of search fees OJ EPO 2009, 99 | 325-327 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 26 January 2009 concerning the 2009 fee structure OJ EPO 2009, 118 | 328-338 | PDF | |
| Notice supplementing the notice from the European Patent Office dated 26 January 2009 concerning the 2009 fee structure OJ EPO 2009, 338 | 339-342 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 22 October 2009 concerning the refund of the examination fee (Article 11 of the Rules relating to Fees) OJ EPO 2009, 542 | 343-346 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 14 July 2007 implementing Article 12 of the Rules relating to Fees Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, M.3 | 347 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 30 March 2009 on setting up and cancelling automatic debit orders via Online Fee Payment OJ EPO 2009, 238 | 348-349 | PDF | |
| O. SPECIAL AGREEMENTS |
| O.1 London Agreement |
| Agreement dated 17 October 2001 on the application of Article 65 EPC OJ EPO 2001, 549 | 352-356 | PDF | |
| Entry into force of the London Agreement OJ EPO 2008, 123 | 357 | PDF | |
| O.2 Switzerland-Liechtenstein |
| Treaty between the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on Patent Protection (Patent Treaty) of 22 December 1978 OJ EPO 1980, 407 | 358-367 | PDF | |
| P. EUROPEAN PATENT ORGANISATION |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation of 24 February 1978 on the authenticity in the three languages of the European Patent Office of the texts of decisions taken by the Administrative Council OJ EPO 1978, 201 | 370 | PDF | |
| Decision of the Administrative Council of 8 June 1984 on the proportion of renewal fees for European patents to be remitted to the European Patent Organisation OJ EPO 1984, 296 | 371 | PDF | |
| Q. EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION |
| Q.1 Accessions |
| Norway OJ EPO 2007, 531 Croatia OJ EPO 2007, 637 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia OJ EPO 2008, 507 San Marino OJ EPO 2009, 396 Serbia OJ EPO 2010, 394 | 374 | PDF | |
| LV Latvia Impact of the European Patent Convention on national law OJ EPO 2007, 684 | 375-382 | PDF | |
| Q.2 Revision |
| Entry into force of the revised text of the European Patent Convention OJ EPO 2008, 1 | 383 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 20 September 2007 on implementation of the transitional provisions of the EPC 2000 applicable during the transition from the EPC 1973 to the EPC 2000 OJ EPO 2007, 504 | 384-387 | PDF | |
| Q.3 Territorial field of application |
| Registration of European patents (UK) in overseas states or territories OJ EPO 2004, 179 | 388-389 | PDF | |
| Q.4 Reservations |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 18 June 2007 following up on the notice dated 8 March 2007 concerning the issue of the direct applicability of Article 70(7) of the TRIPS Agreement in Spain to European patent applications filed prior to the expiry of the reservation entered by Spain under Article 167(2)(a) EPC OJ EPO 2007, 439 | 390-392 | PDF | |
| R. EXTENSION OF EUROPEAN PATENTS |
| Extension of European patents to Serbia and Montenegro OJ EPO 2004, 563 | 394-395 | PDF | |
| Extension of European patents to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA) OJ EPO 2004, 619 | 396-397 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 23 May 2007 concerning the Co-operation and Extension Agreement with the former State Union of Serbia and Montenegro OJ EPO 2007, 406 | 398-399 | PDF | |
| Extension of European patents to Montenegro (ME) OJ EPO 2010, 10 | 400-402 | PDF | |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 2 November 2009 concerning the re-introduction of a grace period for the payment of extension fees OJ EPO 2009, 603 | 403-405 | PDF | |
| S. UTILISATION SCHEME |
| S.1 Permanent scheme |
| Notice from the European Patent Office dated 28 July 2010 concerning amended Rule 141 EPC and new Rule 70b EPC – utilisation scheme OJ EPO 2010, 410 | 408-413 | PDF | |
| Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 5 October 2010 on the filing of copies of search results under Rule 141(1) EPC – utilisation scheme OJ EPO 11/2010 | 414-415 | PDF | |
| S.2 Pilot programmes |
| Patent Prosecution Highway pilot programme between the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office OJ EPO 2010, 46; OJ EPO 2010, 518 | 416-422 | PDF | |
| Patent Prosecution Highway pilot programme between the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office OJ EPO 2010, 57 | 423-430 | PDF | |
| Patent Prosecution Highway pilot programme between the Trilateral Offices based on PCT work products OJ EPO 2010, 69 | 431-439 | PDF | |
| T. THIRD COUNTRIES |
| Patent protection in Hong Kong Special Administration Region OJ EPO 2009, 546 | 442-449 | PDF | |
