Open for public consultation: EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines
Today the EPO is launching a public user consultation on the Guidelines 2021, which have just entered into force [1], and is inviting you to provide input. You can submit your comments in any one of the EPO's three official languages via an online form. The deadline for your contributions is 12 April 2021.
The Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office ("EPC Guidelines") and the Guidelines for Search and Examination at the European Patent Office as PCT Authority ("PCT-EPO Guidelines") give instructions on the practices and procedures to be followed in the examination of European and international applications and patents in accordance with the European Patent Convention (EPC), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and their Implementing Regulations.
The Guidelines are a vital resource for illustrating the law and practice in proceedings before the EPO and are widely consulted by external parties. They are revised annually to keep them aligned with the latest legal and procedural developments.
We encourage you to take this opportunity to comment on the EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines.
Your anonymised comments will be discussed with the members of the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines in a meeting scheduled for May 2021.
We value your input and look forward to receiving your feedback.
Further information
- Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office
- Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority
- Users and EPO working to finalise Guidelines