3.6.1 Purpose of Rule 106 EPC

The purpose of R. 106 EPC is to give the board a chance to react immediately and appropriately by either removing the cause of the objection or by dismissing it (see e.g. R 5/08, T 1544/08, T 144/09, T 1977/13), thereby ensuring legal certainty for the parties and the public as to whether the ensuing substantive decision of the board is open to review under Art. 112a EPC (R 4/08, R 1/10, R 14/11, R 16/12). By ensuring that errors can be corrected by a board before a final decision is taken, R. 106 EPC also ensures that unnecessary petitions for review are avoided (R 14/11, R 18/12).