4.1 Formal requirements
4.1.1Entitlement to file European patent applications
4.1.001A European patent application may be filed by any natural or legal person, or any body equivalent to a legal person, irrespective of nationality and place of residence or business (but see point 4.1.023).
A European patent application may also be filed by joint applicants or by two or more applicants designating different contracting states; where there are different applicants for different contracting states, they are regarded as joint applicants for the purposes of proceedings before the EPO (see also point 4.1.029).