https://www.epo.org/en/law-and-practice/boards-of-appeal/communications/user-consultation-amendment-rules-procedure-boards

User consultation on an amendment to the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal (RPBA 2020)

Insertion of new Article 15a (oral proceedings by videoconference)

The Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal were last revised in 2019 and the revised version (RPBA 2020) came into force on 1 January 2020. It is now proposed that the RPBA 2020 are amended by the insertion of new Article 15a clarifying that the Boards of Appeal may hold oral proceedings pursuant to Article 116 EPC by videoconference.

The Boards of Appeal Committee (BOAC) and the President of the Boards of Appeal invite users to take part in the consultation on proposed new Article 15a RPBA, which is available in the English version.

Please send your comments to RPBAonlineconsultation@epo.org

This online consultation will remain open until 12.00 hrs CET on 27 November 2020.

Thank you very much for your participation.

Derk-Jan De Groot and Carl Josefsson
Chairman of BOAC and President of the Boards of Appeal