INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
Decisions of the President of the EPO
Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 21 November 2013 concerning the entrustment to non-legally qualified staff of certain duties incumbent on the Legal Division
The President of the European Patent Office, having regard to Articles 10(2)(a) and 20 EPC, has decided as follows:
Article 1
Entrustment to formalities officers of specific duties incumbent on the Legal Division
Within the framework of the responsibilities of the Legal Division, certain employees (formalities officers) who are not legally qualified members of the Legal Division shall be entrusted with the following duties:
1. Registration of transfers of rights and changes of name in the European Patent Register, if the request can be granted directly (Rules 22, 85 EPC).
2. Registration of the rectification of the designation of an inventor in the European Patent Register, if the request can be granted directly (Rule 21 EPC).
3. Communications concerning obvious formal deficiencies under Rules 21 and 22 EPC.
Article 2
Competence of the Legal Division to take decisions itself
Delegation of a duty under Article 1 to an employee who is not a legally qualified member of the Legal Division shall not affect the competence of the Legal Division to take decisions itself.
Article 3
Entry into force
This decision shall enter into force on 1 January 2014.
Done at Munich, 21 November 2013
Benoît BATTISTELLI
President