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Guidelines for Examination

 
 
Table of Contents - Guidelines for Examination
Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office

Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office

 

June 2012

 

List of Contents
General Part
Contents 
1.  Preliminary remarks
2.   Explanatory notes
2.1  Overview
2.2  Abbreviations
3.   General remarks
4.   Work at the EPO
5.   Survey of the processing of applications and patents at the EPO
6.   Contracting States to the EPC
7.   Extension to states not party to the EPC
Part A – Guidelines for Formalities Examination
Contents 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Filing of applications and examination on filing
Chapter III
Examination of formal requirements
Chapter IV
Special provisions
Chapter V
Communicating the formalities report; amendment of application; correction of errors
Chapter VI
Publication of application; request for examination and transmission of the dossier to Examining Division
Chapter VII
Languages
Chapter VIII
Common provisions
Chapter IX
Drawings
Chapter X
Fees
Chapter XI
Inspection of files; communication of information contained in files; consultation of the Register of European Patents; issuance of certified copies
Part B – Guidelines for Search
Contents 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
General
Chapter III
Characteristics of the search
Chapter IV
Search procedure and strategy
Chapter V
Preclassification (routing) and official classification of European patent applications
Chapter VI
The state of the art at the search stage
Chapter VII
Unity of invention
Chapter VIII
Subject-matter to be excluded from the search
Chapter IX
Search documentation
Chapter X
Search report
Chapter XI
The search opinion
Part C – Guidelines for Procedural Aspects of Substantive Examination
Contents 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Formal requirements to be met before the Division starts substantive examination
Chapter III
The first stage of examination
Chapter IV
Examination of replies and further stages of examination
Chapter V
The final stage of examination
Chapter VI
Time limits and acceleration of examination
Chapter VII
Other procedures in examination
Chapter VIII
Work within the Examining Division
Chapter IX
Special applications
Part D – Guidelines for Opposition and Limitation/Revocation Procedures
Contents 
Chapter I
General remarks
Chapter II
The Opposition Division
Chapter III
Opposition
Chapter IV
Procedure up to substantive examination
Chapter V
Substantive examination of opposition
Chapter VI
Procedure for the examination of the opposition
Chapter VII
Details and special features of the proceedings
Chapter VIII
Decisions of the Opposition Division
Chapter IX
Costs
Chapter X
Limitation and revocation procedure
Part E – Guidelines on General Procedural Matters
Contents 
Introduction
Chapter I
Communications and notifications
Chapter II
Oral proceedings
Chapter III
Taking and conservation of evidence
Chapter IV
Derogations from the language of the proceedings in oral proceedings
Chapter V
Examination by the EPO of its own motion; facts, evidence or grounds not submitted in due time; observations by third parties
Chapter VI
Interruption and stay of the proceedings
Chapter VII
Time limits, loss of rights, further and accelerated processing and re-establishment of rights
Chapter VIII
Applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Chapter IX
Decisions
Chapter X
Appeals
Chapter XI
Request from a national court for a technical opinion concerning a European patent
Chapter XII
Registering transfers, licences, other rights, etc.
Part F – The European Patent Application
Contents 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Content of a European patent application (other than claims)
Annex 1
Checklist for considering the abstract (see F-II, 2.5)
Annex 2
Units recognised in international practice and complying with Rule 49(11) (see F-II, 4.13)
Chapter III
Sufficiency of disclosure
Chapter IV
Claims (Art. 84 and formal requirements)
Annex
Examples concerning essential features
Chapter V
Unity of invention
Chapter VI
Priority
Part G – Patentability
Contents 
Chapter I
Patentability
Chapter II
Inventions
Chapter III
Industrial application
Chapter IV
State of the art
Chapter V
Non-prejudicial disclosures
Chapter VI
Novelty
Chapter VII
Inventive Step
Annex
Examples relating to the requirement of inventive step – indicators
Part H – Amendments and Corrections
Contents 
Chapter I
The right to amend
Chapter II
Admissibility of amendments - general rules
Chapter III
Admissibility of amendments - other procedural matters
Chapter IV
Allowability of amendments - Art. 123(2) and Art. 123(3)
Chapter V
Allowability of amendments - examples
Chapter VI
Correction of errors