Article 97

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

Information from the EPO

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 24 November 2023 concerning the discontinuation of issuing EPO smart cards

1. The EPO will stop issuing EPO smart cards from 1 January 2024. After this date users can continue to use EPO smart cards to access EPO online services until their EPO smart card expires1 and only until EPO smart cards are decommissioned. This is planned for 1 January 2025. As an alternative, the EPO offers modern two-factor authentication methods to access EPO online services.

2. The EPO will not accept or process any requests for new EPO smart cards or requests to replace or renew existing EPO smart cards submitted after the close of business on the last working day of 2023, i.e. after 18.00 hrs CET on Friday, 29 December 2023. As always, EPO smart card renewals can only be requested up to 60 days prior to their expiry date.

3. Smart card users are strongly encouraged to start using two-factor authentication as soon as possible and in any case before their smart card expires. New means of authentication are available to users accessing MyEPO Portfolio (including the Mailbox service), Online Filing 2.0, Central Fee Payment and the EPO Contingency Upload Service. From November 2023, new means of authentication will also be available for users of the EPO Online Filing (OLF) software, provided they install version 5.15.2 The earlier Mailbox and My Files services, which will both be decommissioned by June 2024, cannot be accessed using two-factor authentication. Corresponding services are, however, integrated in MyEPO Portfolio and these can be accessed using two-factor authentication.

4. Users can choose from among several two-factor authentication methods. These methods are described on the EPO website3 and are currently limited to Okta Verify, Google Authenticator, phone text message (SMS) and email. More methods will be added in the future, and these will be announced on the EPO website. These alternatives to the EPO smart-card offer the highest security with state-of-the-art two-factor authentication and greater flexibility. Users will no longer need to request a smart card, install the necessary hardware and software on their systems and deal with smart card software upgrades and compatibility. As long as their EPO smart card continues to be active, users will be able to authenticate either with two-factor authentication or with the EPO smart card each time they sign in to EPO online services. Additional information on how to set up two-factor authentication is available on the EPO website.4

5. European patent applications can be filed using the EPO Online Filing (OLF) software with two-factor authentication only with those competent national authorities under Article 75 EPC that have adapted their systems accordingly. For information on the use of EPO smart cards, available alternatives and other services provided by national authorities, including the provision of national office plug-ins, please contact the relevant national authority. Exceptionally, and to ensure a smooth transition to the new means of authentication, the EPO will continue to renew or replace EPO smart cards for filing with national offices until 30 September 2024. This is subject to the limited number of remaining EPO smart cards available and the specific needs of national authorities. Requests can be submitted to the EPO until 18.00 hrs CET on Monday, 30 September 2024. As always, EPO smart card renewals can only be requested up to 60 days prior to their expiry date.