Does a representative need a separate authorisation to act in procedures relating to the Unitary Patent before the EPO?

In general, professional representatives whose names appear on the list maintained by the EPO and legal practitioners entitled to act as representatives under Rule 20(1) UPR in conjunction with Article 134(8) EPC and who identify themselves as such do not need to file an authorisation. An authorisation may be required in specific cases involving a change of representative (a change of representative without explicit withdrawal of the previous representative from representation) or if there is any doubt as to the representative's entitlement to act.

Employees who are representing a party under Rule 20(1) UPR in conjunction with Article 133(3), first sentence, EPC and who are neither professional representatives nor legal practitioners under Rule 20(1) UPR in conjunction with Article 134(8) EPC must file a signed authorisation or a reference to a general authorisation already on file.

A separate checkbox has therefore been added to Forms 1003 (individual authorisation) and 1004 (general authorisation) which can be used to issue authorisation for all proceedings relating to a Unitary Patent. There are also two forms – 7003 and 7004 – which can be used, respectively, to issue an individual and a general authorisation that applies only to a Unitary Patent. When filing Form 7000 (request for unitary effect), it is possible simply to refer to a previously filed specific or general authorisation if it also covers proceedings relating to Unitary Patents.