What is the shared area feature?

Personal consultation can sometimes help to advance patent grant-related procedures for an application. It is already possible for applicants (or their representative where appointed) and examiners to arrange a consultation, normally by videoconference, to discuss a case informally (see Guidelines C-VII, 2.1).  

The shared area feature in MyEPO allows you to upload documents and jointly edit them with the first member of the examining division during such a consultation. "Track Changes" is on by default, showing you what changes were made to the document, who made them and when. You can also add comments and there is a chat function. 

As for any consultation, there will be minutes summarising the main results (see Guidelines C-VII, 2.4). If relevant and agreed by both sides in the consultation, documents modified during the consultation can be downloaded and attached to the minutes of the conversation or to the reply to the EPO's communication. 

Documents uploaded to or jointly edited in the shared area are not considered as having been filed with the EPO or notified by the EPO. If, following the informal consultation, an additional filing by the applicant is deemed necessary, it should be done using the usual channels.    

In the case of consultations relating to amendments agreed immediately prior to completing the Rule 71(3) communication, these amendments may be reflected by the examiner in that communication without the need for additional filing (see Guidelines C-VII, 2.4).The documents uploaded to the shared area are not public.  

The legal and procedural framework for consultations involving the use of the shared area remains the same as the one applicable to all personal consultations (see Guidelines C-VII, 2.1–2.5). 

This new feature adds real-time interaction to our online services, greatly increasing quality, transparency, and efficiency.