10.4 Request for correction of minutes 

If a party to oral proceedings considers that the minutes do not fulfil the requirements of Rule 124, they may file a request to that effect, with a proposed correction, as soon as possible after receipt of the minutes in question.

The examining/opposition division is competent to decide on a request for correction (T 1198/97, T 68/02 and T 231/99). In response, the division will either issue corrected minutes of the oral proceedings or dispatch a communication stating that the minutes already contain the essentials of the oral proceedings and the relevant statements of the parties and giving reasons for this finding (see T 819/96). The division's communication is not open to appeal on its own. If the request for correction is filed within the period for filing the grounds for appeal, the division will make every effort to deal with it as promptly as possible so that the party can refer to the communication in the appeal.

It is at the discretion of the writer of the minutes (and of the chair who authenticates them) to decide what is considered essential and relevant within the meaning of Rule 124(1) (T 212/97). The minutes are corrected when they show deficiencies with regard to these aspects, for example if essential submissions or similarly important procedural statements are missing, or if they are incorrectly reflected in the minutes (T 231/99, T 642/97 and T 819/96).