4.2 The international preliminary examination procedure before the EPO as an IPEA
4.2.12.Unity of invention
4.2.038If the applicant fulfils the requirements for reduction of the preliminary examination fee, any additional fee is validly paid upon payment of the reduced sum (see point 4.1.060).
4.2.039If the applicant does not pay any additional preliminary examination fee the EPO establishes the IPER on the basis of the result already communicated.
4.2.040If the applicant pays one or more additional preliminary examination fee(s) within the time limit set, those parts of the application for which additional fees have been paid will also be examined. Consequently the IPER will be established for all inventions for which a fee for preliminary examination has been paid.
4.2.041The applicant may pay any additional fee under protest in accordance with Rule 68.3(c) PCT. The protest procedure is the same as before the EPO as ISA (see points 3.3.020 ff).
4.2.042Where applicable, the EPO as IPEA will base the examination on the results of the protest procedure, if available, before establishment of the IPER.
4.2.043Claims relating to inventions in respect of which no international search report has been established will not be the subject of international preliminary examination by the EPO as IPEA (see point 4.2.027).