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Guide for applicants, Part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO (Euro-PCT Guide)

 
 
Table of Contents - Guide for applicants, Part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO (Euro-PCT Guide)
E. Euro-PCT procedure before the EPO as a designated (PCT Chapter I) or elected (PCT Chapter II) Office
II. What is "entry into the European phase"?
Minimum requirements
Minimum requirements
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In order to initiate the European phase the applicant must take at least the following steps within 31 months from the filing date or, if priority has been claimed, from the earliest priority date:
R. 159 EPC
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supply the translation if the Euro-PCT application was not published in one of the EPO's official languages (see points 505 ff),
Art. 153(4) EPC
R. 159(1)(a) EPC
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specify the application documents on which the European grant procedure is to be based (see points 469 ff),
R. 159(1)(b) EPC
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pay the filing fee provided for in Article 78(2) EPC, including an additional page fee for applications longer than 35 pages (see points 530 ff),
R. 159(1)(c) EPC
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pay the designation fee (and any extension fees) if the period under Rule 39 EPC has expired earlier (see points 544 ff),
R. 159(1)(d) EPC
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pay the search fee if a supplementary European search report is to be drawn up (see points 575 ff),
Art. 153(7) EPC
R. 159(1)(e) EPC
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file the request for examination and pay the examination fee if the period under Rule 70(1) EPC has expired earlier (see points 580 ff),
R. 159(1)(f) EPC
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pay the renewal fee for the third year if the period under Rule 51(1) EPC has expired earlier (see points 593 ff),
R. 159(1)(g) EPC
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where applicable (in rare cases), file the certificate of exhibition mentioned in Article 55(2) EPC (see points 605 ff).
R. 159(1)(h) EPC