When is the EPO competent to act as IPEA?
4.1.4.2 Specification by the receiving Office
4.1.015The EPO acts as an IPEA for any application, on condition that the receiving Office with which the international application was filed has specified the EPO as IPEA. The same countries which have not (yet) specified the EPO as ISA have not (yet) specified the EPO as IPEA (see point 3.1.008). Up-to-date information is available in the annexes to the WIPO PCT Guide (see point 1.3.002).
Art. 32 PCT
Agreement EPO-WIPO, Art. 3(2), (3)
OJ 2017, A115
OJ 2018, A24
OJ 2020, A35
4.1.016Where the international application was filed with the IB, the EPO is competent as IPEA if the international application could have been filed with a receiving Office which has specified the EPO as IPEA.