160

For the EPO as an elected Office, the same requirements apply (see points 158 and 159). In addition, however, the EPO must have been elected in the demand for international preliminary examination. Since the filing of the demand constitutes the election of all PCT contracting states that were designated for where possible a national and a regional patent, this requirement will automatically be met unless the applicant has validly withdrawn that election (see points 7, 129).