3.1 "Euro-direct route"

The terms "Euro-direct route" and "Euro-direct application" refer to the procedure for and origin of a European patent application respectively. If a European patent application is filed directly under the EPC, the European Patent Convention and its Implementing Regulations apply. In this context, it is noted that the terms "Euro-direct" and "EP-direct" are both used in EPO publications to refer to an application filed under the EPC. These Guidelines use the term "Euro-direct" only.