Site search
Search current area only
Advanced search
Patent search
Advanced patent search
Deutsch
English
Français
Contact
About us
European Patent Organisation
The Office
Boards of appeal
Jobs
Tenders
Annual reports and statistics
Service & support
Website updates
FAQ
Online services and software
Publications
Ordering
Forms
Useful links
Contact us
Forums
Glossary
RSS feeds
Home
Searching for patents
Applying for a patent
Law & practice
News & issues
Learning & events
Home
Footer
Sitemap
Print
Share
Facebook
Xing
LinkedIn
Google +
Twitter
Sitemap
Home
Searching for patents
Free online services
Espacenet - patent search
Release notes & known issues
About searching in Espacenet
European patent register
Register Alert
Release notes March 2013
Release notes archive
Register documentation
FAQ
Third-party observations
European publication server
Statistics
Megafiles with sequence listings
Euro-PCT cross-references
Unpublished EP-A documents
European Patent Bulletin
Download Bulletin files
Archive
Open Patent Services
FAQ
EBD
IPscore
European patent applications and specifications
Common Citation Document
Patent translate
FAQ
Videos
Use in Espacenet
Use in the publication server
Fair use charter
Subscription products
Patent information services for experts
About the services for experts
FAQ
Tips and tricks
MIMOSA software
FAQ
Global patent index (GPI)
European patent bulletin
ESPACE EP
PATSTAT online (Beta)
ESPACE national collections
ESPACE AT
ESPACE DK
ESPACE ES
ESPACE FI
ESPACE SI
ESPACE UK
Patent abstracts of Japan
Discontinued products
ESPACE LEGAL
Official Journal on DVD
Discontinued products
ESPACE ACCESS
ESPACE ACCESS EP-B
ESPACE ACCESS EPC
ESPACE FIRST
ESPACE WORLD
Production timetable
Previous years
Raw data products and test data
European Patent Register (EBD)
Boards of appeal decisions
DOCDB database
CPC in XML
Electronic Machine Translation Dictionaries
INPADOC legal status
EP-A & EP-B full text in XML
EP-A & EP-B full text in PDF/A
Full images of worldwide patents from BNS collection
Clipped Images
Sequence listings
Fulltext extractions in ST36/XML - CH collection
Fulltext extractions in ST36/XML - GB collection
WO Full Text Database
PATSTAT
EPO worldwide legal status database (for PATSTAT)
Fulltext extractions in ST36/XML - AT collection
Download data
Special search programme
Austrian Patent Office
Bulgarian Patent Office
Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Czech Industrial Property Office
Danish Patent and Trademark Office
Estonian Patent Office
Finnish Patent Office
United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Luxemburg Direction de la Propriété Intellectuelle
Octrooicentrum Nederland
Portuguese Patent Office
Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks
Swedish Patent and Registration Office
Slovak Industrial Property Office
Turkish Patent Institute
Asian patent information
Search services
Translation services
China (CN)
FAQ
Facts and figures
Grant procedure
Numbering system
Useful terms
Searching in databases
Chinese Taipei (TW)
FAQ
Facts and figures
Grant procedure
Numbering system
Useful terms
Searching in databases
India (IN)
FAQ
Facts and figures
Grant procedure
Numbering system
Japan (JP)
FAQ
Facts and figures
Grant procedure
Numbering system
Useful terms
Searching in databases
Korea (KR)
FAQ
Facts and figures
Grant procedure
Numbering system
Useful terms
Searching in databases
Saudi Arabia (SA) FAQ
Patent trends
Updates
Updates 2011
Updates 2012
Updates 2013
Useful links
Patent information centres
About patent information centres
Services
Pilot project
Directory
EPO support for PATLIB centres
FAQ
Essentials
About patent information
Basic definitions
Patent families
About patent families
Definitions
Espacenet patent family
Extended patent family
Thomson Scientific WPI patent family
Patent classification
IPC
CPC
Business use
Patent statistics and patent mapping
Portfolio management and patent valuation
Data
Data sets
Applications
Policies and licences
Information on EPO data
Updates
Latest patent additions
Latest full-text additions
FAQ
Manuals
Useful tables and statistics
Applying for a patent
European route
Guide for applicants
Filing options
Oppositions
National validation
Appeals
International route
Guide for applicants
Filing options
Decisions and notices
PCT provisions and resources
National route
Online services
Improving online services
Legal basis for IT Roadmap
Case Management System
Web-form filing
E-mail filing
Find a professional representative
Help
Entry on the list
Registration / deletion of association
Changes to association
Online filing
Features & benefits
What you need to use Online Filing
Download software for filing with the EPO
Download auxiliary software
Download documentation
Online Filing in national offices
PMS interface
Open source
FAQ
My files
Features & benefits
FAQ
Online fee payment
Features & benefits
What you need to use Online Fee Payment
Download documentation
Multipay Tool
FAQ
Mailbox
Features & benefits
FAQ
Administration
Features & benefits
FAQ
Calendar of oral proceedings
Calendar
Release schedule
Security
Smart cards
Smart card reader
Applying for a smart card
Activating your smart card
FAQ
Forms and fees
European (EPC) forms
Request for examination
European (EPC) fees
Decisions and notices relating to fee changes
International (PCT) fees
Decisions and notices relating to PCT fees
Making payments
Patent basics
Law & practice
Legal texts
European Patent Convention
Amendments
Official Journal
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Archive
Download ZIP files
Administrative Council decisions
Notices from the President
Information from the EPO
Advertising
Guidelines for Examination
London Agreement
Status
Key points
Implementation in national law
National law relating to the EPC
Ancillary regulations to the EPC
Handbook of quality procedures
Archive
European Patent Convention 13th edition
Documentation on the EPC revision 2000
European Patent Convention 1973
Guidelines for examination (June 2005)
Guidelines for examination (December 2007)
Guidelines for examination (April 2009)
Guidelines for Examination (April 2010)
Court practices
European Patent Judges' Symposium
Case law & appeals
Basic search - board of appeal decisions database
Help
Advanced search - board of appeal decisions database
Help
Recent decisions
2013 decisions
2012 decisions
2011 decisions
2010 decisions
2009 decisions
2008 decisions
2007 decisions
2006 decisions
2005 decisions
2004 decisions
2003 decisions
2002 decisions
2001 decisions
2000 decisions
Enlarged Board of Appeal
Pending referrals (Art. 112 EPC)
Decisions sorted by number (Art. 112 EPC)
Pending petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
Decisions on petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
Case Law of the Boards of Appeal
Business distribution scheme
Technical boards by IPC
Archive
Case Law from the Contracting States to the EPC
User consultations
Ongoing consultations
Completed consultations
Alert service
Unitary patent & Unified Patent Court
Unitary patent
Unified Patent Court
FAQ
News & issues
News
Archive
Patenting issues
Unitary patent
Scenarios for the future
Background
Scenarios
Interviews
Download
Sustainable technologies
Patent trends
Smart grids
The EPO and clean energy
Patents and clean energy
Patents and clean energy in Africa
Partners
Medical technologies
Medical technologies and cancer
Research institutes
Europe's research institutes
Simple inventions
European Inventor Award
Computer programs
Patents for software
Enlarged Board opinion
Mobile economy
Biotechnology
Classification
Nanotechnology
Climate change mitigation technologies
"Melon patent" case
Films
EPO film
European Inventor Award 2012
European Inventor Award 2011
European Inventor Award 2010
European Inventor of the Year 2009
Industry - acceptance speech
SMEs/research - acceptance speech
Non-European countries - acceptance speech
Lifetime achievement - acceptance speech
Alison Brimelow's speech
Miloslav VlĨek's speech
Heinz Zourek's speech
European Inventor of the Year 2008
Patents and clean energy launch
Patent Translate
Books by EPO authors
EPO in social media
Press
Speeches
Contact
Press releases
Archive
Fact sheets
Photos
The President
Management
Administrative Council
EPO headquarters in Munich
Other buildings
Scenes from the EPO
European Inventor Award 2012: ceremony and winners
Annual results 2012 press conference
European Inventor Award 2013 finalists
Call back
Press conference
Blog
Learning & events
Events and classroom training
Conferences and key events
PATLIB2013
Creating markets from research results
Patent information conference 2013
Examination Matters 2013
Archive 2013
Archive 2012
Archive 2011
The EPO at trade fairs
Search all events
Training
National patent offices
Professional representatives
Businesses and SMEs
Judges
Universities and research centres
Patent information users
Users of online services
Online training
European qualifying examination
About the EQE
Admission and enrolment
2014 enrolment
Training for the EQE
Compendium (past papers, examiners' reports)
Pre-examination
Paper A chemistry
Paper B chemistry
Paper A Electricity/Mechanics
Paper B Electricity/Mechanics
Paper C
Paper D
Results and statistics
Successful candidates
FAQ
Archive
Materials
EQE study guide
Inventors' handbook
Introduction
Disclosure and confidentiality
Novelty and prior art
Competition and market potential
Assessing the risk ahead
Proving the invention
Protecting your idea
Building a team and seeking funding
Business planning
Finding and approaching companies
Dealing with companies
Seven deadly sins of the inventor
Patent teaching kit
About the teaching kit
FAQ
Terms of use
Downloads and ordering
Workshops
IP course design manual
About the manual
FAQ
Terms of use
Downloads and ordering
ip4inno
Patent Litigation in Europe
Terms of use
European Inventor Award
The event
Registration
The location
The finalists
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Search for past finalists
Jury
Popular Prize
Nominate an inventor for 2014
Eligibility rules and conditions
Entry forms
FAQ
Past events
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Press
Archive
40 years EPC
University competition
Art competition for primary schools
About us
European Patent Organisation
Legal foundation
Member states
Member states by date of accession
Extension states
Administrative Council
Composition
Representatives
Secretariat
Rules of procedure
Council bodies
Technical and Operational Support Committee
Committee on Patent Law
Board of Auditors
Budget and Finance Committee
Calendar
Documentation
Administrative Council documents
The Office
Mission and vision
Activities
Office film
About the President
Management committee
Official holidays
Standing Advisory Committee (SACEPO)
Objectives
Current members
SACEPO
Working Party on Guidelines
Working Party on Rules
Patent Documentation and Information sub-committee
Meetings
Members' area
Roundtable on patent practice (EUROTAB)
Agendas and minutes
Delegates area
Economic and Scientific Advisory Board (ESAB)
Composition
Workshops and reports
Social responsibility
Environmental management
Art collection
Art and technology
Public art
Art in the workplace
Latest news
Contact and bibliography
European and international co-operation
Co-operation with member states
Bilateral co-operation with non-member states
Multilateral international co-operation with IP offices and organisations
Co-operation with international organisations outside the IP system
European Patent Academy
Areas and audiences
Institutional strengthening
Professional Representatives
Judicial training
Academia
Business
Management structure
Partners
Contact
New building in The Hague
History
Boards of appeal
FAQ
Jobs
Current vacancies
Examiner jobs
Jobs in other areas
Internships
Science and engineering
Patent professionals
National judges
Internships for graduates
Other internships
Why the EPO?
Who we are
Nationality of EPO staff
Salary and benefits
Social life
Attractive locations
Work as an examiner
What an examiner does
Search
Examination
Opposition
Profile
Training
Meet our examiners
Nuki West
Dagmar Bobkova
Willem Gijsels
João Raposo Pires
Cécile Denis
Jonas Kling
Contact our examiners
About recruitment
Application procedure
Selection process
FAQ
Privacy statement
Job fairs
Tenders
Open invitations to tender
Archive
Annual reports and statistics
Annual reports
Annual report 2012
President's foreword
Highlights 2012
No more barriers
Statistics and trends
Download centre
Annual report 2011
President's review
Highlights 2011
Statistics and trends
Download centre
Annual report 2010
Annual report 2009
Mission and vision
Foreword
In focus
Business report
Boards of appeal
Staff and resources
Statistics
European Patent Organisation member states
Clean energy
Organisational structure of the EPO
Annual report 2008
Mission and vision
Foreword
In focus
Business report
Boards of appeal
Staff and resources
Statistics
European Patent Organisation member states
Organisational structure of the EPO
Annual report 2007
Mission and vision
Foreword
In focus
Business report
Boards of appeal
Staff and resources
Statistics
European Patent Organisation member states
Organisational structure of the EPO
Annual report 2006
Five-year summary
Mission statement
Foreword
2006 in review
Business report
Staff and resources
Financial report
Statistics
European Patent Organisation member states
Scenarios for the future
Organisational structure of the EPO
Annual report 2005
Mission statement
Foreword
2005 in review
Business report
Staff & resources
Financial report
Statistics
Developments in the European patent system
European Patent Organisation member states
Inventor of the year
Glossary
Organisational structure
Annual report 2004
Foreword
2004 in review
Business report
Developments in-house
International affairs
Staff
Financial report
Statistics
European Patent Organisation member states
Statistics
Total European patent filings
European patent applications filed with the EPO
Granted patents
Top applicants
Top patentees
Service & support
Website updates
2012
2013
FAQ
Patent & IP basics
About us
Jobs
Boards of appeal
Newsletter
Procedure & law
FAQ
Applying for a patent
Online services
Online filing
My files
Online fee payment
European Patent Register
Register Alert
Mailbox
PatXML
Open Patent Services
Administration
Smart cards
Patent searching
European Patent Register
Register Alert
IPC
MIMOSA software
Patent information services for experts
Open Patent Services
Patent management and valuation
Patent statistics
Patent information centres
Asian patent information
China
Chinese Taipei
India
Japan
Korea
Learning & events
EQE
Patent teaching kit
Online services and software
Publications
About the EPO
Annual reports
Annual report 2011
Annual report 2009
Annual report 2008
Annual report 2007
Annual report 2006
Annual report 2005
Annual report 2004
Annual report 2003
Annual report 2002
Annual report 2001
Annual report 2000
Annual report 1999
Annual report 1998
Annual report 1997
Facts and figures
Facts and figures 2013
Facts and figures 2012
Facts and figures 2010
Facts and figures 2009
Facts and figures 2008
Facts and figures 2007
Facts and figures 2006
Facts and figures 2005
Facts and figures 2004
Facts and figures 2003
Facts and figures 2002
Facts and figures 2001
Facts and figures 2000
Facts and figures 1999
Facts and figures 1998
Financial statements
Environmental statements
Our strategy
Patenting issues
Patents for software?
Nanotechnology and patents
Patents on life?
Patents and clean energy
Patents and clean energy in Africa
Searching sustainable technologies
Official periodicals
Official Journal
Archive volumes
European Patent Bulletin
Procedure and law
Guide for applicants, Part I
Guide for applicants, Part II
National law relating to the EPC
European Patent Convention, 14th edition
European Patent Convention, 13th edition
European Patent Convention, 12th edition
Ancillary Regulations to the EPC
Guidelines for examination (2012)
Guidelines for examination (2010)
Guidelines for examination (2009)
Guidelines for Examination (2007)
Guidelines for Examination under the EPC 1973
Case Law from the Contracting States to the EPC
Case Law of the Boards of appeal (2010)
Case Law of the Boards of appeal (2006)
European patents and the grant procedure
Handbook of quality procedures before the EPO
EQE preparation
Patent information
Patent Information News
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Searching for patents - brochure
Products and services brochure
Asian patent information services from the EPO
User guides
Online filing - quick reference guide
Online fee payment - quick reference guide
European Patent Register: An introductory guide
Espacenet
Studies
EPOscript: Genetic engineering - the new challenge
EPOscript: Utilisation of patent protection in Europe
EPOscript: Enabling biotechnological inventions in Europe and the United States
EPOscript: Principles of procedure in European patent law
EPOscript: Enforcement of intellectual property rights and patent litigation
Due process for European patenting
Scenarios for the future
Patent Litigation in Europe
Terms of use
Ordering
Legal texts and studies
Official journal
Subscription databases
Deposit account
PATSTAT
Patent documents
Terms and conditions
Forms
Useful links
Patent offices of the member states
Other patent offices
Legal resources
Directories of patent attorneys
Innovation resources
Patent databases, registers and gazettes
Patent information user groups
Newsletters and social media
About useful links
Disclaimer
Suggest a link
Contact us
Munich: addresses
The Hague: addresses
Berlin: address
Vienna: address
Brussels: address
Subscribe to the EPO newsletter
Subscribe
FAQ
Switchboards
Forums
Glossary
RSS feeds
Quick Navigation
Homepage [Alt] + 0
Skip navigation [Alt] + 1
Sitemap [Alt] + 8
Accessibility information [Alt] + 9
Sitemap
Accessibility
Terms of use
Legal notice
Security
Last updated: 5.2.2010