10.3 Inspection of files

In its capacity as designated Office, the EPO also allows access to its files pertaining to the international phase, provided that international publication has taken place.

The above applies mutatis mutandis to the communication of information from the files.

In its capacity as elected Office the EPO allows access to its files pertaining to the international phase – including the files relating to international preliminary examination in respect of which the EPO acted as IPEA – but only for applications filed on or after 1 July 1998, and only provided international publication has taken place and, as far as the PCT Chapter II file is concerned, the IPER has been completed (OJ EPO 2003, 382).

The above applies mutatis mutandis to the communication of information from the files (A‑XI, 2 and A‑XI, 3).