HomeHome
 
  • Homepage
  • Searching for patents

    Patent knowledge

    Access our patent databases and search tools.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
      • European Publication Server
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
      • European Patent Bulletin
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
      • Web services
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
    • Technology platforms
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
      • Water innovation
      • Space innovation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
      • Firefighting technologies
      • Clean energy technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Overview
      • First time here?
      • Asian patent information
      • Patent information centres
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
    Image
    Plastics in Transition

    Technology insight report on plastic waste management

  • Applying for a patent

    Applying for a patent

    Practical information on filing and grant procedures.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • European route
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Request for extension/validation
    • International route (PCT)
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide – PCT procedure at the EPO
      • EPO decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • Find a professional representative
    • MyEPO services
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
      • Get access
      • File with us
      • Interact with us on your files
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Forms
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Fees
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
      • International fees (PCT)
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
      • Fee payment and refunds
      • Warning

    UP

    Find out how the Unitary Patent can enhance your IP strategy

  • Law & practice

    Law & practice

    European patent law, the Official Journal and other legal texts.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
      • Unitary patent system
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent
    • Court practices
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
    Image
    Law and practice scales 720x237

    Keep up with key aspects of selected BoA decisions with our monthly "Abstracts of decisions”

  • News & events

    News & events

    Our latest news, podcasts and events, including the European Inventor Award.

    Go to overview 

     

    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Overview
      • The meaning of tomorrow
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the finalists
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventor Prize
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
    • Press centre
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • Innovation and patenting in focus
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
      • Green tech in focus
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
      • The future of medicine
      • Materials science
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
      • Patent classification
      • Digital technologies
      • The future of manufacturing
      • Books by EPO experts
    • "Talk innovation" podcast

    Podcast

    From ideas to inventions: tune into our podcast for the latest in tech and IP

  • Learning

    Learning

    The European Patent Academy – the point of access to your learning

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Overview
      • Learning activities
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Overview
      • EQE - European qualifying examination
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
      • National offices and IP authorities
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and technology transfer centres (TTOs)
    Image
    Patent Academy catalogue

    Have a look at the extensive range of learning opportunities in the European Patent Academy training catalogue

  • About us

    About us

    Find out more about our work, values, history and vision

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Overview
      • Official celebrations
      • Member states’ video statements
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states of the European Patent Organisation
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
      • Administrative Council
    • Principles & strategy
      • Overview
      • Our mission, vision, values and corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
      • Towards a New Normal
    • Leadership & management
      • Overview
      • President António Campinos
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Overview
      • Environmental
      • Social
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Services & activities
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
      • Consulting our users
      • European and international co-operation
      • European Patent Academy
      • Chief Economist
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Overview
      • Innovation actors
      • Policy and funding
      • Tools
      • About the Observatory
    • Procurement
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering and electronic signatures
      • Procurement portal
      • Invoicing
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Transparency portal
      • Overview
      • General
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
      • "Long Night"
    Image
    Patent Index 2024 keyvisual showing brightly lit up data chip, tinted in purple, bright blue

    Track the latest tech trends with our Patent Index

 
en de fr
  • Language selection
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
Main navigation
  • Homepage
    • Go back
    • New to patents
  • New to patents
    • Go back
    • Your business and patents
    • Why do we have patents?
    • What's your big idea?
    • Are you ready?
    • What to expect
    • How to apply for a patent
    • Is it patentable?
    • Are you first?
    • Patent quiz
    • Unitary patent video
  • Searching for patents
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • National patent office databases
        • Global Patent Index (GPI)
        • Release notes
      • European Publication Server
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
        • Cross-reference index for Euro-PCT applications
        • EP authority file
        • Help
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes archive
        • Register documentation
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Deep link data coverage
          • Federated Register
          • Register events
      • European Patent Bulletin
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Download Bulletin
        • EP Bulletin search
        • Help
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Manuals
        • Sequence listings
        • National full-text data
        • European Patent Register data
        • EPO worldwide bibliographic data (DOCDB)
        • EP full-text data
        • EPO worldwide legal event data (INPADOC)
        • EP bibliographic data (EBD)
        • Boards of Appeal decisions
      • Web services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • European Publication Server web service
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
        • Go back
        • Weekly updates
        • Updated regularly
    • Technology platforms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Plastics waste recovery
        • Plastics waste recycling
        • Alternative plastics
      • Innovation in water technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Clean water
        • Protection from water
      • Space innovation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Cosmonautics
        • Space observation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Prevention and early detection
        • Diagnostics
        • Therapies
        • Wellbeing and aftercare
      • Firefighting technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Detection and prevention of fires
        • Fire extinguishing
        • Protective equipment
        • Post-fire restoration
      • Clean energy technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Renewable energy
        • Carbon-intensive industries
        • Energy storage and other enabling technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Vaccines and therapeutics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Vaccines
          • Overview of candidate therapies for COVID-19
          • Candidate antiviral and symptomatic therapeutics
          • Nucleic acids and antibodies to fight coronavirus
        • Diagnostics and analytics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Protein and nucleic acid assays
          • Analytical protocols
        • Informatics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Bioinformatics
          • Healthcare informatics
        • Technologies for the new normal
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Devices, materials and equipment
          • Procedures, actions and activities
          • Digital technologies
        • Inventors against coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • First time here?
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Basic definitions
        • Patent classification
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
        • Patent families
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • DOCDB simple patent family
          • INPADOC extended patent family
        • Legal event data
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • INPADOC classification scheme
      • Asian patent information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • China (CN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Chinese Taipei (TW)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • India (IN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
        • Japan (JP)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Korea (KR)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Russian Federation (RU)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Numbering system
          • Searching in databases
        • Useful links
      • Patent information centres (PATLIB)
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
  • Applying for a patent
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • European route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
        • Go back
        • Oral proceedings calendar
          • Go back
          • Calendar
          • Public access to appeal proceedings
          • Public access to opposition proceedings
          • Technical guidelines
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Unitary Patent
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Legal framework
          • Main features
          • Applying for a Unitary Patent
          • Cost of a Unitary Patent
          • Translation and compensation
          • Start date
          • Introductory brochures
        • Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Extension/validation request
    • International route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide
      • Entry into the European phase
      • Decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
        • Go back
        • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programme outline
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • MyEPO services
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Exchange data with us using an API
          • Go back
          • Release notes
      • Get access
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
      • File with us
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • What if our online filing services are down?
        • Release notes
      • Interact with us on your files
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Fees
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • International fees (PCT)
        • Go back
        • Reduction in fees
        • Fees for international applications
        • Decisions and notices
        • Overview
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • Fee payment and refunds
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Payment methods
        • Getting started
        • FAQs and other documentation
        • Technical information for batch payments
        • Decisions and notices
        • Release notes
      • Warning
    • Forms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Find a professional representative
  • Law & practice
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Documentation on the EPC revision 2000
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • Diplomatic Conference for the revision of the EPC
            • Travaux préparatoires
            • New text
            • Transitional provisions
            • Implementing regulations to the EPC 2000
            • Rules relating to Fees
            • Ratifications and accessions
          • Travaux Préparatoires EPC 1973
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • EPC Guidelines
        • PCT-EPO Guidelines
        • Unitary Patent Guidelines
        • Guidelines revision cycle
        • Consultation results
        • Summary of user responses
        • Archive
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
      • Unitary Patent system
        • Go back
        • Travaux préparatoires to UP and UPC
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent 
    • Court practices
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
  • News & events
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The meaning of tomorrow
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the inventors
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
        • Go back
        • 2024 activities
        • 2025 activities
        • Rules and criteria
        • FAQ
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventors Prize
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
      • The 2025 event
    • Press centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • European Patent Office
        • Q&A on patents related to coronavirus
        • Q&A on plant patents
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • In focus
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
        • Go back
        • CodeFest Spring 2025 on classifying patent data for sustainable development
        • Overview
        • CodeFest 2024 on generative AI
        • CodeFest 2023 on Green Plastics
      • Green tech in focus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About green tech
        • Renewable energies
        • Energy transition technologies
        • Building a greener future
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patents and space technologies
      • Healthcare
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Medical technologies and cancer
        • Personalised medicine
      • Materials science
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Red, white or green
        • The role of the EPO
        • What is patentable?
        • Biotech inventors
      • Classification
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
        • Climate change mitigation technologies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • External partners
          • Updates on Y02 and Y04S
      • Digital technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About ICT
        • Hardware and software
        • Artificial intelligence
        • Fourth Industrial Revolution
      • Additive manufacturing
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About AM
        • AM innovation
      • Books by EPO experts
    • Podcast
  • Learning
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Learning activities: types and formats
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • EQE - European Qualifying Examination
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compendium
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Paper F
          • Paper A
          • Paper B
          • Paper C
          • Paper D
          • Pre-examination
        • Candidates successful in the European qualifying examination
        • Archive
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Innovation case studies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • SME case studies
          • Technology transfer case studies
          • High-growth technology case studies
        • Inventor's handbook
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Introduction
          • Disclosure and confidentiality
          • Novelty and prior art
          • Competition and market potential
          • Assessing the risk ahead
          • Proving the invention
          • Protecting your idea
          • Building a team and seeking funding
          • Business planning
          • Finding and approaching companies
          • Dealing with companies
        • Best of search matters
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Tools and databases
          • EPO procedures and initiatives
          • Search strategies
          • Challenges and specific topics
        • Support for high-growth technology businesses
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Business decision-makers
          • IP professionals
          • Stakeholders of the Innovation Ecosystem
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Paper F brain-teasers
        • Daily D questions
        • European qualifying examination - Guide for preparation
        • EPAC
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compulsory licensing in Europe
        • The jurisdiction of European courts in patent disputes
      • National offices and IP authorities
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Learning material for examiners of national officers
        • Learning material for formalities officers and paralegals
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and TTOs
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Modular IP Education Framework (MIPEF)
        • Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • For students
          • For universities
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • IP education resources
            • University memberships
          • Our young professionals
          • Professional development plan
        • Academic Research Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Completed research projects
          • Current research projects
        • IP Teaching Kit
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Download modules
        • Intellectual property course design manual
        • PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa
          • Go back
          • The PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa initiative (KT2A)
          • KT2A core activities
          • Success story: Malawi University of Science and Technology and PATLIB Birmingham
  • About us
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Go back
      • Official celebrations
      • Overview
      • Member states’ video statements
        • Go back
        • Albania
        • Austria
        • Belgium
        • Bulgaria
        • Croatia
        • Cyprus
        • Czech Republic
        • Denmark
        • Estonia
        • Finland
        • France
        • Germany
        • Greece
        • Hungary
        • Iceland
        • Ireland
        • Italy
        • Latvia
        • Liechtenstein
        • Lithuania
        • Luxembourg
        • Malta
        • Monaco
        • Montenegro
        • Netherlands
        • North Macedonia
        • Norway
        • Poland
        • Portugal
        • Romania
        • San Marino
        • Serbia
        • Slovakia
        • Slovenia
        • Spain
        • Sweden
        • Switzerland
        • Türkiye
        • United Kingdom
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Member states by date of accession
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
        • Go back
        • 2024
        • Overview
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2020
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Select Committee documents
      • Administrative Council
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Composition
        • Representatives
        • Rules of Procedure
        • Board of Auditors
        • Secretariat
        • Council bodies
    • Principles & strategy
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Mission, vision, values & corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
        • Go back
        • Driver 1: People
        • Driver 2: Technologies
        • Driver 3: High-quality, timely products and services
        • Driver 4: Partnerships
        • Driver 5: Financial sustainability
      • Towards a New Normal
      • Data protection & privacy notice
    • Leadership & management
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the President
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Environmental
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring environmental inventions
      • Social
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring social inventions
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Procurement
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) publications
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering
      • Invoicing
      • Procurement portal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • e-Signing contracts
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Services & activities
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Foundations
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • European Patent Convention
          • Guidelines for examination
          • Our staff
        • Enabling quality
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Prior art
          • Classification
          • Tools
          • Processes
        • Products & services
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
          • Continuous improvement
        • Quality through networking
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • User engagement
          • Co-operation
          • User satisfaction survey
          • Stakeholder Quality Assurance Panels
        • Patent Quality Charter
        • Quality Action Plan
        • Quality dashboard
        • Statistics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
        • Integrated management at the EPO
      • Consulting our users
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Objectives
          • SACEPO and its working parties
          • Meetings
          • Single Access Portal – SACEPO Area
        • Surveys
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Detailed methodology
          • Search services
          • Examination services, final actions and publication
          • Opposition services
          • Formalities services
          • Customer services
          • Filing services
          • Key Account Management (KAM)
          • Website
          • Archive
      • Our user service charter
      • European and international co-operation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Co-operation with member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
        • Bilateral co-operation with non-member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Validation system
          • Reinforced Partnership programme
        • Multilateral international co-operation with IP offices and organisations
        • Co-operation with international organisations outside the IP system
      • European Patent Academy
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Partners
      • Chief Economist
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Economic studies
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Innovation against cancer
      • Innovation actors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Startups and SMEs
      • Policy and funding
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Financing innovation programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Our studies on the financing of innovation
          • EPO initiatives for patent applicants
          • Financial support for innovators in Europe
        • Patents and standards
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Publications
          • Patent standards explorer
      • Tools
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Deep Tech Finder
      • About the Observatory
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Work plan
    • Transparency portal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • General
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Annual Review 2023
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • 50 years of the EPC
          • Strategic key performance indicators
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
        • Annual Review 2022
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
        • Go back
        • Insight into computer technology and AI
        • Insight into clean energy technologies
        • Statistics and indicators
          • Go back
          • European patent applications
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Top 10 technical fields
              • Go back
              • Computer technology
              • Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
              • Digital communication
              • Medical technology
              • Transport
              • Measurement
              • Biotechnology
              • Pharmaceuticals
              • Other special machines
              • Organic fine chemistry
            • All technical fields
          • Applicants
            • Go back
            • Top 50
            • Categories
            • Women inventors
          • Granted patents
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Designations
      • Data to download
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
        • Go back
        • Catalyst lab & Deep vision
          • Go back
          • Irene Sauter (DE)
          • AVPD (DK)
          • Jan Robert Leegte (NL)
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #1
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #2
          • Péter Szalay (HU)
          • Thomas Feuerstein (AT)
          • Tom Burr (US)
          • Wolfgang Tillmans (DE)
          • TerraPort
          • Unfinished Sculpture - Captives #1
          • Deep vision – immersive exhibition
          • Previous exhibitions
        • The European Patent Journey
        • Sustaining life. Art in the climate emergency
        • Next generation statements
        • Open storage
        • Cosmic bar
      • "Long Night"
  • Boards of Appeal
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Decisions of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Recent decisions
      • Selected decisions
    • Information from the Boards of Appeal
    • Procedure
    • Oral proceedings
    • About the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • President of the Boards of Appeal
      • Enlarged Board of Appeal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Pending referrals (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Decisions sorted by number (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Pending petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
        • Decisions on petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
      • Technical Boards of Appeal
      • Legal Board of Appeal
      • Disciplinary Board of Appeal
      • Presidium
        • Go back
        • Overview
    • Code of Conduct
    • Business distribution scheme
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technical boards of appeal by IPC in 2025
      • Archive
    • Annual list of cases
    • Communications
    • Annual reports
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
      • Go back
      • Abstracts of decisions
    • Case Law of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
  • Service & support
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • FAQ
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
    • Ordering
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Knowledge Products and Services
      • Terms and conditions
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patent information products
        • Bulk data sets
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • Fair use charter
    • Procedural communications
    • Useful links
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent offices of member states
      • Other patent offices
      • Directories of patent attorneys
      • Patent databases, registers and gazettes
      • Disclaimer
    • Contact us
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Filing options
      • Locations
    • Subscription centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Subscribe
      • Change preferences
      • Unsubscribe
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
    • RSS feeds
Guidelines for Examination – Table of Contents
  1. Home
  2. Legal texts
  3. Guidelines for Examination
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Alphabetical Keyword Index
  6. C
Print
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email

Alphabetical Keyword Index

Overview

Alphabetical Keyword Index

A revised version of this publication entered into force, see here

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • Z
  • &

C

Calculation of claims fees   H‑III, 5

Calculation of time limits   E‑VIII, 1.4

Cancellation of the registration   E‑XIV, 6.2

Cancellation or maintenance of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.2

Change of date, cancellation or maintenance of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7

Withdrawal of the request for oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.2.2

Carrying out the search   B‑IV, 2.3

Cascading non-unity   B‑VII, 1.2.2

Cases in which the proceedings may be interrupted   E‑VII, 1.1

Cases of loss of rights   E‑VIII, 1.9.1

Cases of oral description   G‑IV, 7.3.1

Matters to be determined by the division in cases of oral description   G‑IV, 7.3.3

Cases of partially insufficient disclosure   F‑III, 5

Absence of well-known details   F‑III, 5.2

Difficulties in performing the invention   F‑III, 5.3

Only variants of the invention are incapable of being performed   F‑III, 5.1

Cases under Rule 62a where claims fees have not been paid   B‑VIII, 4.4

Cases where all method steps can be fully implemented by generic data processing means   F‑IV, 3.9.1

Cases where method steps define additional devices and/or specific data processing means   F‑IV, 3.9.2

Cases where the invention is realised in a distributed computing environment   F‑IV, 3.9.3

Categories   F‑II, 7.1, F‑IV, 3.1

Categories of documents (X, Y, P, A, D, etc.)   B‑X, 9.2

Documents cited for other reasons   B‑X, 9.2.8

Documents cited in the application   B‑X, 9.2.7

Documents defining the state of the art and not prejudicing novelty or inventive step   B‑X, 9.2.2

Documents relating to the theory or principle behind the invention   B‑X, 9.2.5

Documents which refer to a non-written disclosure   B‑X, 9.2.3

Intermediate documents   B‑X, 9.2.4

Particularly relevant documents   B‑X, 9.2.1

Potentially conflicting patent documents   B‑X, 9.2.6

Claims in different categories   G‑VII, 14

Different categories   B‑III, 3.10

Kinds of claim   F‑IV, 3.1

Plurality of independent claims in different categories   F‑V, 3.2.2

Prohibited matter   F‑II, 7.1

Central industrial property offices, conversion   A‑IV, 6

Certificate   C‑V, 12

Certificate of exhibition   A‑IV, 3.1, E‑IX, 2.4.3

Defects in the certificate or the identification   A‑IV, 3.2

Certified copies of documents from the files or of other documents   A‑XI, 5.1

Certified copy of the previous application (priority document)   F‑VI, 3.3

Chair   D‑II, 2.3

Change of date of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.1.3

Change of date of oral proceedings at the instigation of the division   E‑III, 7.1.2

Change of date, cancellation or maintenance of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7

Cancellation or maintenance of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.2

Changing the date of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.1

Changes in claim category in opposition   H‑V, 7

Method claim to product claim   H‑V, 7.3

Method claim to use claim   H‑V, 7.4

Product claim to method claim   H‑V, 7.2

Product claim to use claim   H‑V, 7.1

Changes in the title   H‑V, 8

Changes of name   E‑XIV, 5

Registration of changes of name, transfers, licences and other rights   E-XIV

Changing from one searched invention to another   C‑III, 3.5

Changing the date of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.1

Change of date of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.1.3

Change of date of oral proceedings at the instigation of the division   E‑III, 7.1.2

Defined notice period   E‑III, 7.1.3

Requests to change the date of oral proceedings   E‑III, 7.1.1

Characteristics of the search   B-III

Opinions of the search division   B‑III, 1

Scope of the search   B‑III, 2

Subject-matter of the search   B‑III, 3

Charging of costs   D‑IX, 1

Costs to be taken into consideration   D‑IX, 1.3

Decisions on the apportionment of costs   D‑IX, 1.2

General principle   D‑IX, 1.1

Principle of equity   D‑IX, 1.4

Checking the identity and authorisations of participants at oral proceedings   E‑III, 8.3.1

Checklist   F‑II, 2.5

Checklist for considering the abstract   F-II, An. 1

Chemical and mathematical formulae   A‑IX, 11.1

Citation   

Citation of documents corresponding to documents not available or not published in one of the EPO's official languages   B‑VI, 6.2

Citation of prior art in the description after the filing date   H‑IV, 2.2.7

Citation of video and/or audio media fragments available on the internet   B‑X, 11.6

Citing documents not mentioned in the search report   C‑IV, 7.5

Claims   C‑IX, 1.6

Abandoned claims   B‑III, 3.4

Amended claims   F‑V, 6

Amended claims, missing parts (Rule 56) or erroneously filed application documents or parts (Rule 56a)   B‑III, 3.3

Amendments   A‑V, 2.1, A‑V, 2.2, B‑VIII, 6, C‑I, 4, C‑II, 3.1, D‑IV, 5.2, G‑IV, 3, H‑II, 3.1, H‑IV, 2.2.4

Amendments in claims   H‑V, 3

Amendments in claims, further cases of broadening of claims   H‑V, 3.4

Anticipation of amendments to claims   B‑III, 3.5

Applications containing claims filed after the accorded filing date   B‑XI, 2.2

Arrangement of claims   F‑IV, 3.5

Bringing the description into line with amended claims   H‑V, 2.7

Broad claims   B‑III, 3.6, F‑IV, 4.22

Categories   F‑IV, 3.1, F‑V, 2.1

Claim to priority   A‑III, 6, A‑IV, 1.2, E‑IX, 2.3.5, F‑VI, 3

Applications giving rise to a right of priority   A‑III, 6.2

Certified copy of the previous application (priority document)   F‑VI, 3.3

Copy of the previous application (priority document)   A‑III, 6.7

Copy of the search results for the priority or priorities   A‑III, 6.12

Date of filing   A‑IV, 1.2.1

Declaration of priority   A‑III, 6.5, F‑VI, 3.2

Examination of formal requirements   A‑III, 6

Examination of the priority document   A‑III, 6.4

Information on prior art   E‑IX, 2.3.5.2

Instructions in Chapter A‑III ("Examination of formal requirements")   E‑IX, 2.3.5

Loss of right to priority   A‑III, 6.10

Multiple priorities   A‑III, 6.3

Non-entitlement to right to priority   A‑III, 6.9

Notification   A‑III, 6.11

Priority   F‑VI, 3

Priority claim of a divisional application   A‑IV, 1.2.2

Priority document   E‑IX, 2.3.5.1

Priority period   A‑III, 6.6

Re-establishment of rights in respect of the priority period   F‑VI, 3.6

Restoration of priority   E‑IX, 2.3.5.3

Translation of the previous application   A‑III, 6.8, F‑VI, 3.4

Withdrawal of priority claim   F‑VI, 3.5

Claims (Art. 84 and formal requirements)   F-IV

Clarity and interpretation of claims   F‑IV, 4

Conciseness, number of claims   F‑IV, 5

Examples concerning essential features   F-IV, An.

Form and content of claims   F‑IV, 2

Kinds of claim   F‑IV, 3

Support in description   F‑IV, 6

Claims comprising technical and non-technical features   G‑VII, 5.4

Examples of applying the COMVIK approach   G‑VII, 5.4.2

Formulation of the objective technical problem for claims comprising technical and non-technical features   G‑VII, 5.4.1

Claims contravening Art. 123(2) or Art. 76(1)   B‑VIII, 6

Claims directed to computer-implemented inventions   F‑IV, 3.9

Cases where all method steps can be fully implemented by generic data processing means   F‑IV, 3.9.1

Cases where method steps define additional devices and/or specific data processing means   F‑IV, 3.9.2

Cases where the invention is realised in a distributed computing environment   F‑IV, 3.9.3

Claims fee   A‑II, 6.9, A‑III, 9, A‑III, 16.2, A‑IV, 1.4.2, A‑X, 5.2.5, C‑V, 4.8.1, E‑IX, 2.3.8

Calculation of claims fees   H‑III, 5

Cases under Rule 62a where claims fees have not been paid   B‑VIII, 4.4

Claims fees due in response to Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 1.4

Claims fees payable before the grant of the European patent   A‑X, 7.3.2

Claims fees payable on filing the European patent application   A‑X, 7.3.1

Correction of erroneously filed application documents or parts   A‑II, 6.9

Crediting of claims fees   A‑X, 11.2

Due date for specific fees   A‑X, 5.2.5

Examination of formal requirements   A‑III, 9

Fees   A‑IV, 1.4.2

Fees to be paid within the second Rule 71(3) period   C‑V, 4.8.1

Indication of the purpose of payment in the case of claims fees   A‑X, 7.3

Instructions in Chapter A‑III ("Examination of formal requirements")   E‑IX, 2.3.8

Separate crediting of the fee for grant and publishing and claims fees   A‑X, 11.3

Claims filed after accordance of a date of filing   C‑III, 1.1.2

Claims filed after the date of filing   H‑IV, 2.2.4

Claims for a known substance for a number of distinct medical uses   F‑V, 3.2.6

Claims in different categories   G‑VII, 14

Plurality of independent claims in different categories   F‑V, 3.2.2

Claims with explicit references to the description or drawings   B‑III, 3.2.1

Clarity   F‑IV, 1, F‑IV, 3.4, F‑IV, 4.1, F‑IV, 4.5.1, F‑IV, 6.4, F‑V, 2.1

Clarity of claims and support by the description   D‑V, 5

Common dependent claims   F‑V, 3.2.4

Consistent use of reference signs in description, claims and drawings   A‑IX, 7.5.4

Content   A‑III, 3.2, F‑IV, 5

Content of a European patent application (other than claims)   F-II

Correction   A‑V, 3, A‑VI, 1.3, D‑X, 4.3, H‑VI, 2, H‑VI, 2.2

Correction of description, claims and drawings   H‑VI, 2.2.1

Correction of the translations of the claims   H‑VI, 5

Dependent claims   B‑III, 3.7, F‑IV, 3.4, F‑IV, 3.5

Dependent claims pursuant to Art. 54(5)   G‑VI, 6.1.5

Determination of the invention first mentioned in the claims   F‑V, 3.4

Different sets of claims   D‑X, 10

Errors in the description, claims and drawings   H‑VI, 2.1.1.1

Examples, no amended claims filed with the appeal   E‑XII, 7.4.1

Extent of protection   F‑IV, 4.12

Handling of dependent claims under Rule 62a   B‑VIII, 4.6

Independent and dependent claims   B‑III, 3.7, F‑IV, 3.4

Independent claims   F‑IV, 3.1, F‑IV, 3.2, F‑IV, 3.3, F‑V, 2.1, F‑V, 3.2.1

Independent claims containing a reference to another claim or to features from a claim of another category   F‑IV, 3.8

Interpretation of claims   B‑III, 3.2

Late filing of claims   A‑III, 15

Limitation is different for different contracting states because the claims as granted were different for different contracting states   D‑X, 10.2

Limitation results in the claims becoming different in different contracting states   D‑X, 10.1

Novelty of "reach-through" claims   G‑VI, 8

Number of independent claims   F‑IV, 3.2

Opposition proceedings where the claims as granted are different for different contracting states   H‑III, 4.5

Order of claims   F‑IV, 4.23

Plurality of independent claims in the same category   F‑V, 3.2.1

"Reach-through" claims   F‑III, 9

Relationship between documents and claims   B‑X, 9.3

Search on dependent claims   B‑III, 3.8

Support for dependent claims   F‑IV, 6.6

Tables in the claims   A‑IX, 11.2.2

Translation   C‑V, 1.1, D‑VI, 7.2.3, E‑VIII, 3.1.1

Translations of the claims   C‑V, 1.3

Use claims   F‑IV, 4.16

Using the description and/or drawings to define unclear terms not defined in the claims   B‑III, 3.2.3

Clarification of a technical effect   H‑V, 2.1

Clarifications   H‑IV, 2.2.8

Clarity   F‑IV, 4.1

Clarity and interpretation of claims   F‑IV, 4

Broad claims   F‑IV, 4.22

Clarity   F‑IV, 4.1

"Comprising" vs. "consisting of"   F‑IV, 4.20

Definition by reference to (use with) another entity   F‑IV, 4.14

Essential features   F‑IV, 4.5

Expression "in"   F‑IV, 4.15

Functional definition of a pathological condition   F‑IV, 4.21

General statements, "spirit of the invention", claim-like clauses   F‑IV, 4.4

Inconsistencies   F‑IV, 4.3

Interpretation   F‑IV, 4.2

Interpretation of expressions stating a purpose   F‑IV, 4.13

Interpretation of terms such as identity and similarity in relation to amino or nucleic acid sequences   F‑IV, 4.24

Negative limitations (e.g. disclaimers)   F‑IV, 4.19

Optional features   F‑IV, 4.9

Order of claims   F‑IV, 4.23

Parameters   F‑IV, 4.11

Product-by-process claim   F‑IV, 4.12

Reference signs   F‑IV, 4.18

References to the description or drawings   F‑IV, 4.17

Relative terms   F‑IV, 4.6

Result to be achieved   F‑IV, 4.10

Terms such as "about", "approximately" or "substantially"   F‑IV, 4.7

Trade marks   F‑IV, 4.8

Use claims   F‑IV, 4.16

Clarity objections   F‑IV, 4.6.1, F‑IV, 4.7.2, F‑IV, 4.14.1

Definition by reference to (use with) another entity   F‑IV, 4.14.1

Relative terms   F‑IV, 4.6.1

Terms such as "about", "approximately" or "substantially"   F‑IV, 4.7.2

Clarity of claims and support by the description   D‑V, 5

Sufficiency of disclosure and clarity   F‑III, 11

Classification   

Classification of the European patent application   B‑X, 5

CPC classification of the application   B‑V, 4

IPC classification in cases of lack of unity of invention   B‑V, 3.3

IPC classification of late-published search reports   B‑V, 3.1

IPC classification of the application   B‑V, 3

IPC classification where the scope of the invention is unclear (e.g. a partial search)   B‑V, 3.2

Preclassification, IPC and CPC classification of European patent applications   B-V

Verification of the IPC classification   B‑V, 3.4

Closest prior art and its effects on the search   B‑IV, 2.5

Closure of oral proceedings   E‑III, 8.11

Adjournment of oral proceedings due to lack of time   E‑III, 8.11.2

Requesting postponement during oral proceedings   E‑III, 8.11.1

Combination of elements in a claim   B‑III, 3.9

Combination vs. juxtaposition or aggregation   G‑VII, 7

Combining pieces of prior art   G‑VII, 6

Comments and amendments in response to the search opinion   B‑XI, 3.3

Commercial success   G‑VII, 10.3

Commissioning of experts   E‑IV, 1.8

Decision on the form of the opinion   E‑IV, 1.8.1

Objection to an expert   E‑IV, 1.8.2

Terms of reference of the expert   E‑IV, 1.8.3

Common   

Common dependent claims   F‑V, 3.2.4

Common general knowledge of the skilled person   G‑VII, 3.1

Common provisions   A-VIII

Form of documents   A‑VIII, 2

Representation   A‑VIII, 1

Signature of documents   A‑VIII, 3

Common representatives   A‑VIII, 1.4

Commonly designated states   G‑IV, 5.3

Communication   A‑VI, 2.1, E‑II, 1

Admissibility in the examination procedure, after receipt of the first communication - Rule 137(3)   H‑II, 2.3

Agreement reached on a text - second Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 4.7.2

Amendments filed in reply to a Rule 71(3) communication   H‑II, 2.5

Amendments filed in reply to a Rule 71(3) communication, further course of proceedings   H‑II, 2.5.2

Amendments/corrections admitted and allowable - second Rule 71(3) communication sent   C‑V, 4.6

Communication according to Rule 161   E‑IX, 3

Applications for which a supplementary European search report is prepared   E‑IX, 3.1, E‑IX, 3.2

Exceptions where a reply to the Rule 161(1) invitation is not required   E‑IX, 3.3

Rule 137(4) applies   E‑IX, 3.4

Communication in the event of deficiencies as described in D‑IV, 1.2.1 which, if not remedied, will lead to the opposition being deemed not to have been filed   D‑IV, 1.3.1

Communication in the event of deficiencies as described in D‑IV, 1.2.2 which, if not remedied, will lead to rejection of the opposition as inadmissible   D‑IV, 1.3.2

Communication of information contained in files   A-XI, A‑XI, 3

Consultation of the European Patent Register   A‑XI, 4

Inspection of files   A‑XI, 2

Issue of certified copies   A‑XI, 5

Communication of observations from one of the parties to the other parties   D‑IV, 5.4

Communication to the EPO as a designated Office   E‑IX, 2.7

Communication under Rule 71(3)   C‑V, 1

Claims fees due in response to Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 1.4

Communication under Rule 71(3), other information in the communication under Rule 71(3)   C‑V, 1.5

Examining division resumes examination after approval of the text, further communication under Rule 71(3)   C‑V, 6.2

Grant and publishing fee   C‑V, 1.2

Text for approval   C‑V, 1.1

Translations of the claims   C‑V, 1.3

Communications and notifications   E-II

Communications   E‑II, 1

Notification   E‑II, 2

Communications concerning formal deficiencies   A-V, A‑V, 1

Amendment of application   A‑V, 2

Correction of errors in documents filed with the EPO   A‑V, 3

Communications from the opposition division to the patent proprietor   D‑VI, 4

Communications from the opposition division   D‑VI, 4.1

Invitation to file amended documents   D‑VI, 4.2

Reasoned statement   D‑VI, 4.1

Communications/oral proceedings/refusal after resumption   C‑V, 4.7.1

Higher-ranking request not admissible and/or not allowable   C‑V, 4.7.1.1

Examination for deficiencies in the notice of opposition and communications from the formalities officer arising from this examination   D‑IV, 1

Examination procedure, at least one communication in examination   E‑IX, 4.1

Examining division proposes amendments in second Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 4.6.3

Extent of the formalities officer's obligation to issue the above communications   D‑IV, 1.3.3

Filing of applications by means of electronic communication   A‑II, 1.1

First communication   C‑III, 4

Form of decisions, communications and notices   E‑II, 1.3

Invitation to the patent proprietor to submit comments and communication of opposition to the other parties concerned by the formalities officer   D‑IV, 5.2

Issue of communications by the formalities officer as a result of examination for deficiencies   D‑IV, 1.3

Issuing a further communication (no refusal)   C‑V, 15.4

Minutes as the first communication in examination   C‑VII, 2.5

Noting and communication of loss of rights   E‑VIII, 1.9.2

Number of communications   E‑II, 1.2

Opposition division's communications   D‑VI, 3.1

Request for amendments or corrections in reply to the Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 4

Request for amendments or corrections in reply to the Rule 71(3) communication, no payment of fees or filing of translations necessary   C‑V, 4.1

Response filed before first communication in examination   C‑II, 3

Response to communication pursuant to Rule 58 filed with the appeal   E‑XII, 7.4.4

Rule 137(4) communication and response thereto   H‑III, 2.1.1

Rule 161 communication issued before 1 April 2010   E‑IX, 3.3.3

Second Rule 71(3) communication based on higher-ranking request initially rejected in first Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 4.6.2

Second Rule 71(3) communication reversing the amendments proposed by the examining division in first Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 4.6.1

Standard marks for indicating amendments or corrections by the divisions, further communication with the applicant   C‑VIII, 5

Time limits for response to communications from the examiner   C‑VI, 1

Voluntary reply to Rule 161(1) communication   E‑IX, 3.3.4

Comparative test results   E‑IX, 4.3.1

Compensation   E‑IV, 1.10.2

Competence   E‑IV, 2.3

Complete   

Complete search despite lack of unity   B‑VII, 2.2

Complete text for auxiliary request available   H‑III, 3.3.5

Complete text for auxiliary request not yet available   H‑III, 3.3.4

Completeness of the search   B‑III, 2.1

Compliance of amendments with other EPC requirements   H‑IV, 5

Compliance of amendments with other EPC requirements, in examination proceedings   H‑IV, 5.2

Compliance of amendments with other EPC requirements, in limitation proceedings   H‑IV, 5.4

Art. 84   H‑IV, 5.4.1

Examination of the description and/or drawings   H‑IV, 5.4.2

Points to be disregarded   H‑IV, 5.4.3

Compliance of amendments with other EPC requirements, in opposition proceedings   H‑IV, 5.3

Composition and duties of the examining division   E‑XIII, 3

Composition   E‑XIII, 3.1

Duties   E‑XIII, 3.2

Compositions   D‑II, 2, E‑XIII, 3.1, G‑II, 4.2

Chair   D‑II, 2.3

Composition and duties of the examining division   E‑XIII, 3.1

Exceptions to patentability   G‑II, 4.2

Legally qualified members   D‑II, 2.2

Opposition division   D‑II, 2

Substances and compositions   G‑II, 4.2

Technically qualified members   D‑II, 2.1

Compound units   F-II, An. 2, 5

"Comprising" vs. "consisting of"   F‑IV, 4.20

Computer print-out   E‑II, 2.1

Computer programs   F‑II, 4.12, G‑II, 3.6

Description (formal requirements)   F‑II, 4.12

List of exclusions   G‑II, 3.6

Computer-implemented business methods   B‑VIII, 2.2.1

Computers (Programs for ~)    G‑II, 3.6

Concept of "clear allowability"   H‑II, 2.7.1

Conciseness, number of claims   F‑IV, 5

Conditions   A‑X, 9.2.1

Conditions for valid payment   A‑X, 7.1.1

Conditions if drawings are filed on paper   A‑IX, 3

Conduct of oral proceedings   E‑III, 8, E‑III, 8.2

Admission of the public to proceedings   E‑III, 8.1

Closure of oral proceedings   E‑III, 8.11

Discussion of the facts and of the legal position   E‑III, 8.9

Facts, evidence or amendments introduced at a late stage   E‑III, 8.6

Handwritten amendments in oral proceedings   E‑III, 8.7

Non-appearance of a party   E‑III, 8.3

Opening of oral proceedings   E‑III, 8.3

Opening of the substantive part of the proceedings   E‑III, 8.4

Participation of members of the division from different locations   E‑III, 8.2.2

Participation of parties and their representatives from different locations   E‑III, 8.2.1

Recording   E‑III, 8.2.4

Right of the other members of the division to put questions   E‑III, 8.10

Submissions by the parties   E‑III, 8.5

Technical problems   E‑III, 8.2.3

Use of Rule 137(4) for amendments filed during oral proceedings in examination   E‑III, 8.8

Conducting file inspections   A‑XI, 2.2

Confidentiality   C‑VII, 3.2

Confidentiality of the request   A‑XI, 2.4

Confirmation   A‑II, 3.1

Confirmation of the intention to proceed further with the application   C‑II, 1.1

Conflict   

Conflict between abstract and source document   B‑VI, 6.3

Conflict with national rights of earlier date   G‑IV, 6

Conflict with other European applications   G‑IV, 5

Commonly designated states   G‑IV, 5.3

Double patenting   G‑IV, 5.4

Euro-PCT applications   G‑IV, 5.2

State of the art pursuant to Art. 54(3)   G‑IV, 5.1

Conflicting applications   B‑VI, 4

National prior rights   B‑VI, 4.2

Potentially conflicting European and international applications   B‑VI, 4.1

Conflicts between Art. 123(2) and Art. 123(3)   H‑IV, 3.5

Conflicts between Art. 123(3) and other requirements of the EPC   H‑IV, 3.6

Consequences for the applicant   F‑V, 4.2

Consequences of non-payment of the designation fee   A‑III, 11.2.3, A‑III, 11.3.2

European patent applications filed before 1 April 2009   A‑III, 11.3.2

European patent applications filed on or after 1 April 2009   A‑III, 11.2.3

Conservation of evidence   E‑IV, 2

Competence   E‑IV, 2.3

Decision on the request and the taking of evidence   E‑IV, 2.4

Request for the conservation of evidence   E‑IV, 2.2

Requirements   E‑IV, 2.1

Taking and conservation of evidence   E-IV

Consideration of the contents of the IPER   E‑IX, 4.3.3

Consideration of time limits   E‑X, 1.2

Considerations relating to specific exclusions from and exceptions to patentability   B‑VIII, 2

Methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body   B‑VIII, 2.1

Subject-matter excluded from patentability under Art. 52(2) and (3)   B‑VIII, 2.2

Consistent use of reference signs in description, claims and drawings   A‑IX, 7.5.4

Consistent use of reference signs in drawings   A‑IX, 7.5.5

Consolidation of proceedings   E‑VII, 4

Consultations   C‑VII, 2

Consultation of a legally qualified member   C‑VIII, 7

Consultation of the European Patent Register   A-XI, A‑XI, 4

Communication of information contained in the files   A‑XI, 3

Inspection of files   A‑XI, 2

Issue of certified copies   A‑XI, 5

Consultation with other examiners   B‑I, 2.1

Informal nature of consultations   C‑VII, 2.3

Minutes as the first communication in examination   C‑VII, 2.5

Minutes of a consultation   C‑VII, 2.4

Persons participating in the consultation   C‑VII, 2.2

Contact between the applicant and the search division   B‑II, 1.1

Content   B‑IX, 4.1, E‑X, 2.7

Accorded date of filing and content of the application still subject to review   G‑IV, 5.1.2

Analysis of the application and content of the search opinion   B‑XI, 3

Consideration of the contents of the IPER   E‑IX, 4.3.3

Content of a European patent application (other than claims)   F-II

Abstract   F‑II, 2

Checklist for considering the abstract   F-II, An. 1

Description (formal requirements)   F‑II, 4

Drawings   F‑II, 5

Prohibited matter   F‑II, 7

Request for grant   F‑II, 3

Sequence listings   F‑II, 6

Title   F‑II, 3

Units recognised in international practice as determined by the President under Rule 49(2)   F-II, An. 2

Content of the abstract   A‑III, 10.2, F‑II, 2.3

Content of the application as "originally" filed   H‑IV, 2.2, H‑IV, 2.3

Applications filed by reference to an earlier application   H‑IV, 2.3.1

Applications resulting from a decision under Art. 61   H‑IV, 2.3.3

Citation of prior art in the description after the filing date   H‑IV, 2.2.7

Claims filed after the date of filing   H‑IV, 2.2.4

Clarifications   H‑IV, 2.2.8

Divisional applications   H‑IV, 2.3.2

Erroneously filed application documents or parts under Rule 56a   H‑IV, 2.2.3

Features described in a document cross-referenced in the description   H‑IV, 2.2.1

International applications   H‑IV, 2.3.4

Missing parts of the description or missing drawings filed under Rule 56 after the date of filing   H‑IV, 2.2.2

Priority documents   H‑IV, 2.2.6

Sequence listings filed after the date of filing   H‑IV, 2.2.5

Trade marks   H‑IV, 2.2.9

Content of the extended European search report (EESR)   B‑VIII, 3.3, B‑VIII, 4.3

More than one independent claim per category (Rule 62a)   B‑VIII, 4.3

No meaningful search possible   B‑VIII, 3.3

Content of the notice of opposition   D‑III, 6

Content of the publication   A‑VI, 1.3

Contents of prior-art disclosures   B‑VI, 6

Citation of documents corresponding to documents not available or not published in one of the EPO's official languages   B‑VI, 6.2

Conflict between abstract and source document   B‑VI, 6.3

Incorrect compound records in online databases   B‑VI, 6.5

Insufficient prior-art disclosures   B‑VI, 6.4

Decisions taken by the examining or opposition divisions   E‑X, 2.7

Definitive content   F‑II, 2.2

Form and content   E‑X, 1.3, F‑II, 5.1

Form and content of claims   F‑IV, 2

Intermediate publication of the contents of the priority application   F‑VI, 2.4.1

Non-patent literature arranged for library-type access   B‑IX, 4.1

Organisation and content of the documentation available to the search divisions   B‑IX, 1.1

Continuation   

Continuation of proceedings   D‑VII, 4.2

Continuation after a final decision   D‑VII, 4.2.1

Continuation regardless of the stage reached in national proceedings   D‑VII, 4.2.2

Continuation of the opposition proceedings in the cases covered by Rule 84   D‑VII, 5

Continuation after the opposition has been withdrawn   D‑VII, 5.3

Continuation in the case of surrender or lapse of the patent   D‑VII, 5.1

Continuation on the death or legal incapacity of the opponent   D‑VII, 5.2

Contracting States   

Contracting states to the EPC   General Part, 6

Designation of contracting states   A‑III, 11, A‑IV, 1.3.4

Different claims, description and drawings for different States   G‑IV, 6

Different texts in respect of different contracting states   H‑III, 4

Indication of the contracting states   A‑III, 11.3.6

Limitation is different for different contracting states because the claims as granted were different for different contracting states   D‑X, 10.2

Limitation results in the claims becoming different in different contracting states   D‑X, 10.1

Opposition proceedings where the claims as granted are different for different contracting states   H‑III, 4.5

Taking of evidence by courts or authorities of the contracting states   E‑IV, 3

Contribution to the known art   B‑XI, 3.5

Convention, on international exhibitions   A‑IV, 3.1

Conventional symbols   A‑IX, 9

Conversion   A‑IV, 6

Conversion fee   A‑IV, 6

Conversion into a national application   A‑IV, 6

Request for conversion   A‑IV, 6

Request for conversion into a national application   A‑IV, 6

Co-operation (Legal ~)    E‑IV, 3.1

Copy   

Copies to be made available with the search report   B‑X, 11

"&" sign   B‑X, 11.3

Citation of video and/or audio media fragments available on the internet   B‑X, 11.6

Electronic version of cited document   B‑X, 11.2

Patent family members   B‑X, 11.3

Reviews or books   B‑X, 11.4

Summaries, extracts or abstracts   B‑X, 11.5

Copy of the international application   E‑IX, 2.1.2

Copy of the previous application (priority document)   A‑III, 6.7

Certified copy of the previous application (priority document)   F‑VI, 3.3

Copy of the priority application   A‑II, 5.4.3, A‑II, 6.4.2

Correct application documents based on priority application, no change in the filing date   A‑II, 6.4.2

Missing parts of the description or missing drawings based on the priority application, no change in filing date   A‑II, 5.4.3

Copy of the search results for the priority or priorities   A‑III, 6.12, C‑II, 5

Claim to priority   A‑III, 6.12

Formal requirements to be met before the division starts substantive examination   C‑II, 5

Correct   

Correct application documents based on priority application, no change in the filing date   A‑II, 6.4

Copy of the priority application   A‑II, 6.4.2

Later-filed correct application documents or parts when priority is claimed   A‑II, 6.4.1

Translation of the priority application   A‑II, 6.4.3

Correct application documents or parts filed after the search has started   A‑II, 6.7

Correcting an existing priority claim   A‑III, 6.5.2

Corrections   H‑II, 2.6

Amendments and corrections   Part H, H‑II, 2.6

Amendments or corrections should be reasoned   C‑V, 4.3

Amendments/corrections admitted and allowable - second Rule 71(3) communication sent   C‑V, 4.6

Amendments/corrections filed in second Rule 71(3) period   C‑V, 4.10

Correction and certification of the translation   A‑VII, 7

Correction of deficiencies   A‑III, 16

Period allowed for remedying deficiencies   A‑III, 16.2

Procedure for formalities officers   A‑III, 16.1

Correction of description, claims and drawings   H‑VI, 2.2.1

Correction of erroneously filed application documents or parts   A‑II, 6, A‑II, 6.1, A‑II, 6.2

Additional fee for pages   A‑II, 6.8

Claims fee   A‑II, 6.9

Correct application documents based on priority application, no change in the filing date   A‑II, 6.4

Correct application documents or parts filed after the search has started   A‑II, 6.7

Filing date changes   A‑II, 6.3

On invitation   A‑II, 6.1

Same-day corrections   A‑II, 6.6

Withdrawal of correct application documents or parts   A‑II, 6.5

Without invitation   A‑II, 6.2

Correction of errors   A-V, H-VI

Amendment of application   A‑V, 2

Communications concerning formal deficiencies   A‑V, 1

Correction of errors in the decision to grant   C‑V, 7

Correction of formatting/editing errors   H‑VI, 4

Correction of the translations of the claims   H‑VI, 5

Errors in publication   H‑VI, 6

Correction of errors in decisions   H‑VI, 3

Admissibility   H‑VI, 3.1

Allowability of the correction of bibliographic data   H‑VI, 3.2

Correction of the decision to grant while opposition proceedings are pending   H‑VI, 3.3

Procedural aspects   H‑VI, 3.3

Correction of errors in documents filed with the EPO   A‑V, 3, H‑VI, 2

Admissibility   H‑VI, 2.1

Allowability   H‑VI, 2.2

Missing parts of description, missing drawings or correction of erroneously filed application documents filed as corrections under Rule 139   H‑VI, 2.2.2

Request for amendments or corrections in reply to the Rule 71(3) communication   C‑V, 4

Request for amendments or corrections in reply to the Rule 71(3) communication, no payment of fees or filing of translations necessary   C‑V, 4.1

Standard marks for indicating amendments or corrections by the divisions   C-V, An.

Standard marks for indicating amendments or corrections by the divisions, further communication with the applicant   C‑VIII, 5

Standard marks for indicating amendments or corrections by the divisions, further ways to accelerate examination   C‑VI, 3

"Corresponding documents"   B‑X, 9.1.2

Costs   D-IX, E‑VI, 2.2.5

Appeal against the fixing of costs by the opposition division   D‑IX, 2.2

Appeals against the apportionment of costs   E‑XII, 3

Appeals against the decision of the opposition division on the fixing of costs   E‑XII, 4

Charging of costs   D‑IX, 1

Costs arising from oral proceedings or taking of evidence   E‑IV, 1.9

Costs of taking evidence   E‑IV, 3.5

Costs to be taken into consideration   D‑IX, 1.3

Decision concerning the awarding of costs by the opposition division   D‑II, 4.2

Decisions on the apportionment of costs   D‑IX, 1.2

Enforcement of the fixing of costs   D‑IX, 3

Fixing of costs by the opposition division   D‑IX, 2.1

Procedure for the fixing of costs   D‑IX, 2

Could-would approach   G‑VII, 5.3

CPC classification of the application   B‑V, 4

Creations   G‑II, 3.4

Aesthetic creations   G‑II, 3.4

Crediting   

Crediting of fees paid voluntarily   C‑V, 4.2

Crediting of fees under Rule 71a(5)   A‑X, 11, C‑V, 6.3

Crediting of claims fees   A‑X, 11.2

Crediting of fees under Rule 71a(5), further processing fee and crediting of fees   A‑X, 11.4

Examining division resumes examination after approval of the text   C‑V, 6.3

Fees   A‑X, 11

Separate crediting of the fee for grant and publishing and claims fees   A‑X, 11.3

Crediting of the fee for grant and publishing   A‑X, 11.1

Separate crediting of the fee for grant and publishing and claims fees   A‑X, 11.3

Criteria for admissibility of auxiliary requests   H‑III, 3.3.2.1

Criteria for admitting such amendments   H‑II, 2.5.1

Cross-references between prior-art documents   G‑IV, 8

Cross-sections   A‑IX, 7.3

Hatching   A‑IX, 7.3.2

Sectional diagrams   A‑IX, 7.3.1

Currencies   A‑X, 3

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • Z
  • &
Previous
Next
Footer - Service & support
  • Service & support
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
    • FAQ
    • Publications
    • Procedural communications
    • Contact us
    • Subscription centre
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
Footer - More links
  • Jobs & careers
  • Press centre
  • Single Access Portal
  • Procurement
  • Boards of Appeal
Facebook
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
Instagram
EuropeanPatentOffice
Linkedin
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
EPO Procurement
X (formerly Twitter)
EPOorg
EPOjobs
Youtube
TheEPO
Footer
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Accessibility