3.4 Record of search strategy 

Since 1 November 2015, all search reports drawn up by the EPO under both the PCT and EP procedures, including partial search reports, have been automatically supplemented with an information sheet entitled "Information on Search Strategy". If the application lacks unity of invention, the data contained in this sheet only concerns the invention(s) for which the search fee(s) has (have) been paid. The information sheet is automatically generated based on the data entered by the examiner when drawing up the search report. It lists the databases in which the examiner conducted the prior-art search, the classification symbols defining the extent of the search, and the keywords selected by the examiner or any other element relating to the invention to be searched and used to retrieve the relevant prior art.

Upon publication of a search report drawn up under the PCT procedure, the information sheet will be made available to the public via file inspection on WIPO's PATENTSCOPE.