I want to submit a request for oral proceedings to be held on the premises of the EPO. When should I submit the request?

Requests for oral proceedings to be held by way of exception on the premises of the EPO should be filed as soon as possible, preferably together with the request for oral proceedings. The granting of a request for oral proceedings to be held on the premises of the EPO will be at the discretion of the competent division. If the request is received after the summons to oral proceedings and cannot be allowed, the division will inform the applicant that the oral proceedings will take place by VICO as set out in the summons and will provide a brief reasoning as to why the request cannot be granted. If the request is received before the summons has been issued, the reasons for the refusal will be given in the annex to the summons. In either case, no appealable decision will be issued on the matter (see decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 22 November 2022 (OJ 2022, A103)). If a request for oral proceedings on the premises of the EPO is received after the summons to oral proceedings by VICO has been issued and the request is allowed, the applicant will be informed that oral proceedings will be held on the premises of the EPO as requested. Where possible, the date of the oral proceedings will remain unchanged.