Chapter 1 – General overview
1.6 What is a Euro-PCT application?
1.6.001An international application for which the EPO is a designated or elected Office (see point 1.7.004) and which has been accorded an international filing date has – as from that date – the effect of a regular European application (Euro-direct application). Such an international application, being equivalent to a regular European patent application, is referred to as a "Euro-PCT application".
1.6.002Each international application for which the EPO is designated or elected Office is (also) given a European application number. This number is notified to the applicant in a communication informing the applicant of the requirements for entry into the European phase (EPO Form 1201), which, as a rule, is issued approximately ten months after international publication of the application.
1.6.003During the international phase of the processing of an international application no designated or elected Office is allowed to process or to examine that application. This means that a Euro-PCT application will not be processed by the EPO acting as designated or elected Office until it enters the European phase (see point 1.7.002). However, this prohibition may be lifted at the explicit request of the applicant (see points 5.1.022 ff).