6. Time limit and form of appeal 

Notice of appeal must be filed with the EPO within two months of the date of notification of the contested decision. It must contain the name and the address of the appellant as provided in Rule 41(2)(c), an indication of the contested decision and a request defining the subject of the appeal.

The notice is not deemed to have been filed until the fee for appeal fixed in the Rules relating to Fees under the EPC has been paid. For appeals filed on or after 1 April 2018 by natural persons and entities referred to in former Rule 6(4) and (5), i.e. small and medium-sized enterprises, non-profit organisations, universities and public research organisations, and from 1 April 2024 in Rule 7a(2), i.e. also for microenterprises, a reduced fee for appeal is payable, provided that a declaration of entitlement is filed at the latest by the time of payment of the reduced fee (see the notice from the EPO dated 18 December 2017, OJ EPO 2018, A5).

Within four months of the date of notification of the decision, a written statement setting out the grounds of appeal must be filed. In the statement of grounds of appeal, the appellant must indicate the reasons for setting aside the contested decision or the extent to which it is to be amended and the facts and evidence on which the appeal is based.