1.1 Cases in which the proceedings may be interrupted 

According to Rule 142(1), proceedings before the EPO are interrupted in the following cases:

(i)in the event of the death or legal incapacity of the applicant for or proprietor of a European patent or of the person authorised by national law to act on their behalf. If the event in question does not affect the authorisation of a representative appointed under Art. 134, proceedings will be interrupted only on application by that representative.

(ii)in the event of the applicant for or proprietor of a European patent, as a result of some action taken against their property, being prevented by legal reasons from continuing the proceedings before the EPO; or 

(iii)in the event of the death or legal incapacity of the representative of an applicant for or proprietor of a European patent or of their being prevented for legal reasons resulting from action taken against their property from continuing the proceedings before the EPO. 

The EPO normally interrupts proceedings pursuant to Rule 142 on its own initiative. In the case of Rule 142(1)(a), last sentence, however, proceedings are interrupted on request only.