2.2 How must an international application be filed with the EPO as receiving Office?
2.2.8.Can an international application be filed by fax?
2.2.023An international application may, together with further documents other than authorisations and priority documents, be filed by fax with the EPO as receiving Office. The fax numbers are available on the EPO website.22
R. 92.4 PCT
OJ 2019, A18
OJ 2019, A19
WIPO PCT Guide 6.003
2.2.024If an international application is filed by fax, the date on which the facsimile application documents are received in full at the EPO is accorded as the date of receipt of the application. Each of the EPO filing offices is based in the Central European Time zone (CET).
2.2.025If an international application is filed by fax, the original, i.e. the confirmation copy, is to be filed simultaneously, and the fax should state that the confirmation copy has been filed separately on paper at the same time (see point 2.2.012).
2.2.026Further, on the first sheet of the PCT request form filed as confirmation copy it should be indicated that the international application has previously been filed by fax, in the form of the words "CONFIRMATION COPY" followed by the date of fax transmission.
2.2.028As for applications filed by delivery by hand or by post, the EPO as receiving Office will send EPO Form 1031 by post, as a rule within four working days, to acknowledge receipt of a purported international application filed by fax (see point 2.2.020). The acknowledgement explicitly confirms the receipt of each separate document and item making up the international application (e.g. description, claims, abstract, data carrier, letter).