| Note to readers - Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and measures adopted in 2020 | Insert | PDF | HTML |
| I. NOTICE CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL FOR 2020/2021 |
| I. NOTICE CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL FOR 2020/2021 | 1-2 | PDF | HTML |
| II. BUSINESS DISTRIBUTION 2021 |
| II.1 Business distribution scheme of the Enlarged Board of Appeal for 2021 | 3-11 | PDF | HTML |
| II.2 Business distribution scheme of the Legal Board of Appeal for 2021 | 12-13 | PDF | HTML |
| II.3 Business distribution scheme of the Technical Boards of Appeal for 2021 | 14-27 | PDF | HTML |
| II.4 Business distribution scheme of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal for 2021 | 28-29 | PDF | HTML |
| III. RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL |
| III.1 Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal | 30-40 | PDF | HTML |
| III.2 Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal 2020 | 41-56 | PDF | HTML |
| III.3 Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal 2007 | 57-66 | PDF | HTML |
| III.4 Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal | 67-75 | PDF | HTML |
| IV. ACCELERATED PROCESSING |
| IV.1 Accelerated processing before the boards of appeal | 76 | PDF | HTML |
| V. ELECTRONIC AUTHENTICATION OF DECISIONS |
| V.1 Electronic authentication of decisions of the boards of appeal | 77 | PDF | HTML |
| VI. REGISTRARS OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL |
| VI.1 Transfer of tasks to the Registry of the Enlarged Board of Appeal | 78-80 | PDF | HTML |
| VI.2 Transfer of functions to the Registrars of the Boards of Appeal | 81-83 | PDF | HTML |
| VII. ORAL PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE BOARDS OF APPEAL |
| VII.1 Oral proceedings before the boards of appeal | 84 | PDF | HTML |
| VII.2 Oral proceedings on the EPO premises during the coronavirus pandemic | 85-87 | PDF | HTML |
| VII.3 Filing of documents during oral proceedings held by videoconference | 88-90 | PDF | HTML |
| VII.4 Sound-recording devices in oral proceedings before the boards of appeal | 91 | PDF | HTML |
| VII.5 Use of portable computers or other electronic devices in oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal | 92-93 | PDF | HTML |
| VII.6 Use of an alternative official language in oral proceedings | 94 | PDF | HTML |
| VII.7 Compensation and fees payable to witnesses and experts | 95-99 | PDF | HTML |
| VIII. REPRESENTATION |
| VIII.1 Filing of authorisations | 100-101 | PDF | HTML |
| IX. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION |
| IX.1 Public notification under Rule 129 EPC | 102 | PDF | HTML |
| X. MAINTENANCE OF FILES, FILE INSPECTION |
| X.1 PHOENIX electronic file system for the creation, maintenance and preservation of files | 103-104 | PDF | HTML |
| X.2 Inspection of files | 105-106 | PDF | HTML |
| X.3 Documents excluded from file inspection | 107-108 | PDF | HTML |
| X.4 Introducing a consolidated list and discontinuation of the practice of forwarding cited documents | 109-110 | PDF | HTML |
| XI. FILING OF PATENT APPLICATIONS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS |
| XI.1 Filing of patent applications and other documents by facsimile | 111-114 | PDF | HTML |
| XI.2 Electronic filing of documents | 115-120 | PDF | HTML |
| XI.3 EPO Online Filing software | 121 | PDF | HTML |
| XI.4 Electronic signatures, data carriers and software to be used for the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents | 122-123 | PDF | HTML |
| XII. LATE RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTS |
| XII.1 Application of Rule 133 EPC on the late receipt of documents | 124-125 | PDF | HTML |
| XIII. LEGAL DIVISION |
| XIII.1 Responsibilities of the Legal Division | 126 | PDF | HTML |
| XIV. REPRESENTATIVES, EPI, DISCIPLINARY MATTERS |
| XIV.1 epi | 127-133 | PDF | HTML |
| XIV.2 epi Code of Conduct | 134-139 | PDF | HTML |
| XIV.3 Regulation on discipline for professional representatives | 140-150 | PDF | HTML |
| XIV.4 Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committee of the epi | 151-161 | PDF | HTML |
| XIV.5 Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Board | 162-168 | PDF | HTML |
| XV. STRUCTURAL REFORM OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL |
| XV.1 Organisation of the Boards of Appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal (Rule 12 to Rule 13 EPC) | 169-174 | PDF | HTML |
| XV.2 Act of Delegation | 175-176 | PDF | HTML |
| XV.3 Deputy of the President of the Boards of Appeal | 177-178 | PDF | HTML |
| ANNEXES |
| Annex 1 Index of published decisions | 179-182 | PDF | HTML |
| Annex 2 Table setting out the amendments to the RPBA and the explanatory remarks | 183-266 | PDF | HTML |
