Chapter I – Filing of the European patent application
Rule 3655
European divisional applications
(1)56, 57 The applicant may file a divisional application relating to any pending earlier European patent application.
(2)58 A divisional application shall be filed in the language of the proceedings for the earlier application. If the latter was not in an official language of the European Patent Office, the divisional application may be filed in the language of the earlier application; a translation into the language of the proceedings for the earlier application shall then be filed within two months of the filing of the divisional application. The divisional application shall be filed with the European Patent Office in Munich, The Hague or Berlin.
(3) The filing fee and search fee shall be paid within one month of filing the divisional application. If the filing fee or search fee is not paid in due time, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.
(4)59 The designation fee shall be paid within six months of the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the European search report drawn up in respect of the divisional application. Rule 39, paragraphs 2 and Rule 39, paragraphs 3, shall apply.
55See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/05, G 1/06, G 1/09 (Annex I).
56Amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 15/13 of 16.10.2013 (OJ EPO 2013, 501), which entered into force on 01.04.2014.
57See notice from the EPO of 08.01.2014 concerning European divisional applications – amendment of Rules 36, 38 and 135 EPC and Article 2(1) of the Rules relating to Fees (OJ EPO 2014, A22, Corr. OJ EPO 2014, A109).
58Amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 2/09 of 25.03.2009 (OJ EPO 2009, 296), which entered into force on 01.04.2010.
59Amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 4/08 of 21.10.2008 (OJ EPO 2008, 513), which entered into force on 01.04.2009.
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13.12.2007 - 31.03.2009Decision of the Administrative Council of 07.12.2006 (CA/D 10/06), (OJ EPO 2007, 8 and Special edition 1/2007)01.04.2009 - 31.03.2010CA/D 4/08 (OJ EPO 2008, 513)01.04.2010 - 25.10.2010CA/D 2/09 (OJ EPO 2009, 296)26.10.2010 - 31.03.2014CA/D 16/10 (OJ EPO 2010, 568)01.04.2014 -CA/D 15/13 (OJ EPO 2013, 501)