2. Abbreviations

AAD

Arrangements for the automatic debiting procedure

ADA

Arrangements for deposit accounts

AI

Artificial intelligence

BDS

Business Distribution Scheme

Biotech Directive

Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions

BlfPMZ

Blatt für Patent-, Muster- und Zeichenwesen (German periodical)

Budapest Treaty

Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms

CJEU

Court of Justice of the European Union

CLB

"Case Law of the Boards of Appeal" publication

Corr.

corrigendum

DBA

Disciplinary Board of Appeal

DG

Directorate General of the European Patent Office

EC

European Community

ECHR

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

ECtHR

European Court of Human Rights

Enlarged Board

Enlarged Board of Appeal

EPC

European Patent Convention

epi

European Patent Institute (Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office)

EPO

European Patent Office

EQE

European qualifying examination

EU

European Union

FICPI

International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys

Guidelines

Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office

IPEA

International Preliminary Examining Authority

IPER

International Preliminary Examination Report

IPREE

Implementing provisions to the Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives

ISA

International Searching Authority

ISPE Guidelines

International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines

Legal Board

Legal Board of Appeal

OJ

Official Journal of the European Patent Office

OJ SE

Special Edition of the Official Journal of the European Patent Office

Paris Convention

Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

PCT

Patent Cooperation Treaty

RDR

Regulation on Discipline for Professional Representatives

REE

Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives

Register

European Patent Register

RFees

Rules relating to Fees

RPBA

Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal

RPDBA

Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal

RPEBA

Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal

TRIPS

Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

UPOV

International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

USPTO

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Vienna Convention

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

WIPO

World Intellectual Property Organization

WTO

World Trade Organization