1.8 1.7General authorisation

An authorisation may cover more than one application or patent. Also, a general authorisation enabling a representative to act in respect of all the patent transactions of the party making the authorisation may be filed.

It should be noted that aAn authorisation given for EP proceedings (EPO Form 1004) does not extend to UP proceedings unless this is indicated by selecting the corresponding box on EPO Form 1004. Alternatively, a separate general authorisation solely for UP proceedings may be used (EPO Form 7004, see Unitary Patent Guidelines, 8.2.4). A corresponding procedure applies to the withdrawal of an authorisation.

A general authorisation does not need to indicate the applications concerned. If a general authorisation is filed to authorise a representative in several applications, the EPO will make sure that a copy of it is included in all of the files concerned.

General authorisations for professional representatives, legal practitioners and associations are not registered by the EPO (see the decision of the President of the EPO dated 7 July 2025 on the filing and signing of authorisations, OJ EPO 2025, A45, and the notice from the EPO dated 7 July 2025 concerning the registration of general authorisations, OJ EPO 2025, A47). Professional representatives, legal practitioners and associations acting under a general authorisation can file an electronic copy of it in the proceedings using one of the EPO's permitted means of electronic filing. These groups of representatives must no longer refer to a previously registered general authorisation's registration number.

The Legal Division registers general authorisations for employees (see the decision of the President of the EPO dated 7 July 2025 on the filing and signing of authorisations, OJ EPO 2025, A45, and the notice from the EPO dated 7 July 2025 concerning the registration of general authorisations and new related MyEPO features, OJ EPO 2025, A47, and OJ EPO 2013, 600). Once the general authorisation has been registered, employees may cite the registration number in proceedings. General authorisations for employees can also be managed in MyEPO (OJ EPO 2025, A47).

However, the filing of a general authorisation is distinct from the appointment of a representative for a specific case. The party granting a general authorisation is not bound to appoint one of the representatives listed in any specific procedure before the EPO. Nor does a general authorisation allow the EPO to assume, without any additional information, that a person listed should be appointed as a representative in a specific case (see J 17/98). Therefore, in a specific case, a party wishing to appoint the representative(s) listed in a general authorisation must notify the EPO accordingly by referring to the general authorisation number already registered. The Legal Division is responsible for the registration of general authorisations (OJ EPO 2013, 600).