9. Delivery of the decision 

The delivery of the decision will follow a statement by the person conducting the proceedings announcing the operative part of the decision (see also E‑III, 8.11 and E‑X, 2.3).

The operative part may, for example, read as follows:

"The patent application ... is refused." or

"The opposition to the patent ... is rejected." or

"The patent ... is revoked." or

"Taking account of the amendments made by the proprietor in the opposition proceedings, the patent and the invention to which it relates satisfy the requirements of the Convention." or

"The request for limitation of the patent .... is allowable." or

"The request for limitation of the patent .... is rejected." or

"Patent grant proceedings relating to European patent application No. ... are interrupted/resumed as from ..."

Once a decision has been pronounced, submissions of the party or parties cannot be considered any longer and the decision stands, subject to the correction of errors in accordance with Rule 140. It may only be amended by appeal (see E‑XII, 1, E‑XII, 7 and E‑XII, 8).

No pronouncement need be made at this point as to the reasons for the decision or the possibility of appeal. However, the examining or opposition division may give a short explanation of the reasons for the decision.

Subsequently the decision in writing (see E‑X) containing the reasoning and information as to right of appeal must be notified to the parties without undue delay. The period for appeal will only begin to run from the date of notification of the written decision.

Generally speaking it will not be possible to give a decision granting a European patent or maintaining it in amended or limited form in oral proceedings since, in the case of the grant of a patent, the requirements laid down in Rule 71(3) to Rule 71(7), and in the case of a patent being maintained in amended or limited form, the requirements of Rule 82(1) and Rule 82(2) or Rule 95(3) must be fulfilled.

The division further ensures that the result of oral proceedings in opposition is made available to the public online immediately after the hearing. If the patent is maintained on the basis of amendments filed during oral proceedings, these amendments are made public as well.