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Legal texts
Legal texts from the European Patent Office (EPO)
The European Patent Convention (EPC)
The 13th edition contains the following texts:
- Convention on the Grant of European Patents (EPC)
- Implementing Regulations to the EPC
- Protocol on the interpretation of Article 69 EPC
- Protocol on Centralisation
- Protocol on Recognition
- Protocol on Privileges and Immunities
- Protocol on the Staff Complement
- Act revising the EPC (extract)
- Decision of the Administrative Council of 28 June 2001 on the transitional provisions
- Rules relating to Fees
Guidelines for Examination
The guidelines cover five aspects of the patent granting procedure: formalities examination, search, substantive examination, opposition procedure and general procedural matters.
Ancillary regulations to the EPC
The 2006 edition is a collection of the most important texts relating to the European patent grant procedure in general, as compiled by the EPO's Directorate-General 3 (Appeals).
National law relating to the EPC
A concise and reliable guide to the most important provisions and requirements of the national law of the contracting states applicable to European patent applications and patents.
London Agreement
The Agreement on the application of Article 65 EPC – the London Agreement – is an optional agreement aiming at reducing the costs relating to the translation of European patents.
The Official Journal of the EPO
The Official Journal contains notices and information of a general character issued by the President of the European Patent Office, as well as any other information relevant to the EPC or its implementation.
Administrative Council decisions
The archive of Administrative Council decisions dates back to 1993.
Notices and decisions of the President
List of recent pre-published notices and decisions of the President.
Information from the EPO
The important notices contained in this archive have been published in the Official Journal.
Additional information
The following publications are now available in the Appeals section:
- Case Law of the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office
- European National Patent Decisions Report
The documentation on the EPC revision 2000 contains comprehensive information on the revised provisions.
View the texts of the European Patent Convention 1973 and Guidelines for examination (June 2005) in our archive .
Subscribe to the EPO publications mailing list .