Part IV – Implementing Regulations to Part IV of the Convention
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Chapter IV – Examination by the Examining Division

Overview

Rule 71110, 111, 112
Examination procedure

(1) In any communication under Article 94, paragraph 3, the Examining Division shall, where appropriate, invite the applicant to correct any deficiencies noted and to amend the description, claims and drawings within a period to be specified.

(2) Any communication under Article 94, paragraph 3, shall contain a reasoned statement covering, where appropriate, all the grounds against the grant of the European patent.

(3)113 Before the Examining Division decides to grant the European patent, it shall inform the applicant of the text in which it intends to grant it and of the related bibliographic data. In this communication the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to pay the fee for grant and publishing and to file a translation of the claims in the two official languages of the European Patent Office other than the language of the proceedings within four months.  

(4) If the European patent application in the text intended for grant comprises more than fifteen claims, the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to pay claims fees in respect of the sixteenth and each subsequent claim within the period under paragraph 3 unless the said fees have already been paid under Rule 45 or Rule 162.

(5) If the applicant, within the period laid down in paragraph 3, pays the fees under paragraph 3 and, where applicable, paragraph 4 and files the translations under paragraph 3, he they shall be deemed to have approved the text communicated to him them under paragraph 3 and verified the bibliographic data.

(6) If the applicant, within the period under paragraph 3, requests reasoned amendments or corrections to the communicated text or keeps to the latest text submitted by him them, the Examining Division shall issue a new communication under paragraph 3 if it gives its consent; otherwise it shall resume the examination proceedings.

(7) If the fee for grant and publishing or the claims fees are not paid in due time, or if the translations are not filed in due time, the European patent application shall be deemed to be withdrawn. 


110See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 10/93, G 1/02, G 1/10 (Annex I).

111Paragraphs 3-7 amended, paragraphs 8-11 deleted and Rule 71a inserted by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 2/10 of 26.10.2010 (OJ EPO 2010, 637), which entered into force on 01.04.2012.

112See notice from the EPO of 13.12.2011 (OJ EPO 2012, 52).

113See notice from the EPO of 26.05.2020 (OJ EPO 2020, A73).
See notice from the EPO of 02.07.2024 concerning a change of practice in access to patent literature documents cited in search and examination proceedings (OJ EPO 2024, A68).

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EPC - Reference
  • Art. 86, 97, 123
    R. 70, 71a
Version history
  • 13.12.2007 - 31.03.2008 
    Decision of the Administrative Council of 07.12.2006 (CA/D 10/06), (OJ EPO 2007, 8 and Special edition 1/2007)
    01.04.2008 - 31.03.2009 
    CA/D 2/08 (OJ EPO 2008, 124)
    01.04.2009 - 31.03.2012 
    CA/D 4/08 (OJ EPO 2008, 513)
    01.04.2012 - 31.03.2025 
    CA/D 2/10 (OJ EPO 2010, 637)
    01.04.2025 - 
    CA/D 20/24 (OJ EPO 2025, A16)
Cross-reference list
  • EPC EPC 1973
    R. 71-
    R. 71(1)-(3)R. 51(2) - (4)
    R. 71(4)R. 51(7)
    R. 71(5)-(6)R. 51(5) (elmts)
    R. 71(7)R. 51(8)
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