Guidelines for Examination 2023 enter into force
The EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines 2023, published in preview mode a month ago, entered into force today, superseding the editions of March 2022.
The new EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines are published in the EPO's three official languages on the EPO website, where they can be downloaded free of charge in PDF format or accessed section-by-section in HTML format. The PDF version is available both as a "clean copy" and as a version showing all modifications. Within each section of the HTML version, what has changed in the new edition can be displayed by selecting the Show modifications box in the top right-hand corner. A full list of the sections which have been amended, together with corresponding hyperlinks, is published alongside the corresponding Guidelines.
Public consultation
A public user consultation on the 2023 edition of the Guidelines is already underway and will run until 4 April 2023. Users are encouraged to file their comments through the dedicated webform. The anonymised comments will be discussed within the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines in May 2023. Your feedback will enable us to better identify what matters to our users and help us improve the 2024 editions of the EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines.
Further information
Notice from the European Patent Office dated 12 December 2022 concerning the updating of the Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office (OJ EPO 2023, A6)
Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office
Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority
Related items

This year, the European Patent Office (EPO) celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the European patent system.

The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation invites the Republic of Moldova to accede to the European Patent Convention (EPC).

Extensive information on the exam for the new European patent administration certification now available

Administrative Council adopts changes in the Implementing Regulations to the EPC

Members of the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines provide input on the drafts for 2025

Documents accessible via Espacenet, paper copies no longer mailed

International Conference on IP Strategy, Warsaw

EPO President congratulates IPO and outlines vision for an inclusive patent system

Change of practice for EPC and PCT proceedings from 1 October 2024

European proprietors in the lead

New work plan deepens partnership under SP2028

SACEPO WP/G evaluates the results of the consultation on the Guidelines 2024 and its revision cycle

Comments on EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines can still be filed until 2 April

The EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines come into force on 1 March. Send us your feedback in our annual user consultation and check out our small questionnaire

New EPO practice for ST.25 sequence listings (in PDF) additionally filed for divisional applications

epi and EPO celebrate tradition of support for future patent professionals, which has seen the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) into the digital.

Guests including Ursula von der Leyen and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands join staff to celebrate 50th anniversary of the EPC.

Users have until 4 April 2023 to provide their input on the Guidelines published today.

This year, the European Patent Office (EPO) celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the European patent system.

The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation invites the Republic of Moldova to accede to the European Patent Convention (EPC).

Extensive information on the exam for the new European patent administration certification now available

Administrative Council adopts changes in the Implementing Regulations to the EPC

Members of the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines provide input on the drafts for 2025

Documents accessible via Espacenet, paper copies no longer mailed

International Conference on IP Strategy, Warsaw

EPO President congratulates IPO and outlines vision for an inclusive patent system

Change of practice for EPC and PCT proceedings from 1 October 2024

European proprietors in the lead

New work plan deepens partnership under SP2028

SACEPO WP/G evaluates the results of the consultation on the Guidelines 2024 and its revision cycle

Comments on EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines can still be filed until 2 April

The EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines come into force on 1 March. Send us your feedback in our annual user consultation and check out our small questionnaire

New EPO practice for ST.25 sequence listings (in PDF) additionally filed for divisional applications

epi and EPO celebrate tradition of support for future patent professionals, which has seen the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) into the digital.

Guests including Ursula von der Leyen and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands join staff to celebrate 50th anniversary of the EPC.

Users have until 4 April 2023 to provide their input on the Guidelines published today.

This year, the European Patent Office (EPO) celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the European patent system.

The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation invites the Republic of Moldova to accede to the European Patent Convention (EPC).

Extensive information on the exam for the new European patent administration certification now available