List of sections amended in 2026 revision

General Part

General Part, 3.1

General Part, 3.2

New subsections on Euro-direct route to a patent

General Part, 3.3

New subsection on the law applicable to Euro-direct, Euro-PCT and international applications

General Part, 5

New section on the use of artificial intelligence

General Part, 6.1

General Part, 6.2

New subsections on the procedural steps in the processing of Euro-direct applications

PART A

A‑II, 5.4.2

A‑III, 3.2

A‑IV, 1.2.1

A‑V, 2.2

A‑VI, 1.3

A‑IX

A‑IX, 1.2

A‑IX, 2.1

A‑IX, 2.2

A‑IX, 3

A‑IX, 4.1, 4.2

A‑IX, 7.1

A‑IX, 7.5.4

A‑IX, 10

A‑XI, 5.2

Processing of colour drawings, OJ EPO 2025, A49 and OJ EPO 2025, A57

A‑III, 6.7.3

New subsection on invitation to file a certified copy

A‑III, 6.8.6

Clarification of practice, paragraph breaks inserted for easier legibility

A‑III, 7.1

Clarification of practice: disparity between title given on request for grant and abstract

A‑VIII, 1.2

Clarification of practice: previously, only professional representatives could be members of an association

A‑VIII, 1.3

Clarification of practice: legal practitioners can administer their details in MyEPO

A‑VIII, 1.4

New subsection on representation by an association of representatives

A‑IX, 10.1

New subsection on replacement drawings under Rule 58

Part A,-XII XII-XV

New chapters on Euro-PCT procedure

PART B

B‑III, 3.2

Subsection amended in view of decision G 1/24

PART C

C‑II, 1.2.1

C‑II, 1.2.1.1

C‑II, 1.2.2

C‑II, 1.2.2.1

New subsections on Euro-PCT applications with and without a supplementary European search report and related subsections on acceleration of the proceedings by waiving the right to the communication under Rules 161(1) and 162

C‑III, 3.2.4

New subsection on re-evaluation of the unity requirement in examination

C‑III, 4.1.3

New subsection on consideration of the contents of the IPER

C‑VII, 2.6.1

C‑VII, 2.6.2

New subsections on the process of a consultation using the Shared area and minutes of such a consultation

C‑VII, 3.3

Added clarification regarding valid signatures and personal data in email exchanges

C‑IX, 1.4

Clarification of the principles applied in assessing added subject-matter in divisional applications

PART E

E‑III, 8.3.1

New policy on individual authorisations

E‑III, 10.1

Information on the AI-assisted minutes pilot

E‑III, 10.3

Handling of drawings in the minutes

E‑IV, 4.1

E‑IV, 4.3

Update regarding evaluation of evidence

E‑VIII, 4

E‑VIII, 4.1

E‑VIII, 7

Abolition of PACE for search

E‑VIII, 4.2

Bahrain added as a PPH partner office

E‑IX

Content moved to Part A-XII XII-XV

PART F

F‑III, 10

New section on further medical use claims

F‑IV, 4.2

Clarification in view of G 1/24

F‑IV, 4.6,

F‑IV, 4.24

Updated in view of case law

PART G

G‑II, 5.3

G‑IV, 7.2.2

G‑IV, 7.3.4

G‑IV, 7.5.2

G‑IV, 7.5.3

G‑V, 3

Updates regarding free evaluation of evidence

G‑IV, 2

G‑IV, 7.2.1

Clarification in view of G 1/23

G‑VI, 6.1.2.1

New subsection on preclinical data and clinical trials in the prior art  

G‑VI, 6.1.2.2

New subsection on patient groups

G‑VI, 6.1.2.3

New subsection on mechanistic definitions leading to a new clinical situation

G‑VI, 7

Removal of the reference to "seriously contemplate" and addition of reference to the "gold standard" in view of T 1688/20

G‑VI, 7

G‑VII, 12

Change of practice regarding assessment of novelty for selection inventions

PART H

H‑II, 3.1

Clarification that Rule 80 is a non-discretionary substantive requirement

H‑V, 2.2

Section aligned with G 2/21

H‑V, 5

Updates regarding colour drawings, OJ EPO 2025, A57

General Part

General Part, 1

Added statement about the gender-neutral interpretation of any references to persons in the Guidelines

General Part, 1.1

General Part, 1.2

New subsections on updating and publishing the Guidelines and on suggestions for improvements

General Part, 2

Updated section title

General Part, 2.1

Updated information about the most recent updates and editions of the Guidelines

General Part, 2.2

Updated section title and clarification regarding references to EPC 2000

General Part, 3

Section restructured, with content partially moved to new subsections General Part, 3.4 and General Part, 3.5

General Part, 4

Updated heading and clarified content

General Part, 7

Clarification that EPC contracting states are also PCT contracting states

PART A

A‑I, 1

Updated to reflect the integration of the information on Euro-PCT procedures into Part A

A‑I, 2

Wording updated to align with General Part

A‑II, 1.1.1

A‑VIII, 3.3

A‑X, 4.2.3

Updated to reflect renaming of "MyEPO Portfolio" as "MyEPO"

A‑II, 1.7

Restructured by removing outdated subsection II, 1.7.1

A‑II, 1.1.1

A‑II, 3.1

A‑II, 4.1.1

A‑III, 4.1

A‑IV, 5

A‑X, 5.2.4

Updated to reflect decommissioning of EPO Online Filing (OLF)

A‑II, 6.5

Added information about physical deficiencies under Rule 49(2) in correct application documents

A‑III, 1.2

New OJ notice on the filing of sequence listings

A‑III, 4.2.2

Clarification regarding signature by representatives

A‑III, 6.2

Updated name of Taiwan

A‑III, 6.7.2,

Restructured by moving two paragraphs to new A‑III, 6.7.3

A‑III, 9

Clarification regarding claims not incurring claims fees

A‑III, 11.2.5

Subsection deleted, information moved to A‑XIII, 5

A‑III, 11.3.1

A‑III, 11.3.2

A‑III, 11.3.3

A‑III, 11.3.4

A‑III, 11.3.5

A‑III, 11.3.6

A‑III, 11.3.7

A‑III, 11.3.8

A‑III, 11.3.9

Subsections deleted to remove outdated information

A‑III, 13.2

Content partially moved to A‑XIII, 4.1, 4.1.1 and 4.1.2

A‑IV, 3.1

A‑IV, 4.1

Updated information on recognised exhibitions

A‑IV, 4.4

Added information on waiver under Rule 33(2)

A‑IV, 6

Updated to reflect setting of conversion fee to zero, OJ EPO 2024, A3

A‑VII, 7

Clarification regarding corrections of translations and requirements for certifying translations

A‑VIII, 1.1

Subsection reworded for ease of reading

A‑VIII, 1.7,

A‑VIII, 1.8

Information on authorisations (OJ EPO 2025, A45)

A‑VIII, 1.9

Legal basis added

A‑VIII, 1.10

Subsection restructured

A‑VIII, 2.4

Subsection updated

A‑VIII, 3.2

OJ EPO 2025, A52 on signature requirements

A‑VIII, 3.3

Information about enhanced electronic signature deleted

A‑IX, 4

Title updated

A‑X, 4.3

Updated to reflect improvements in automatic debiting procedure, OJ EPO 2025, A18

A‑X, 5.1.1

Wording aligned with the practice

A‑X, 5.2.1

Content partially moved to A‑XIII, 2

A‑X, 7.1.1

Reference to G 1/12 and H‑IV, 2 added

A‑X, 7.2

Outdated information deleted

A‑X, 9.2

Clarification regarding application of fee reductions

A‑X, 9.3.1

Clarification regarding SMEs and micro-entities

A‑X, 9.3.3

Reference to A‑XIII, 7 added

A‑X, 9.4.1

Clarification regarding medium-size enterprises added

A‑X, 10.2.5

Clarification regarding dates of notifications

A‑XI, 2.1

Added information on European Patent Register

A‑XI, 2.2

OJ EPO 2025, A65 regarding administrative fees for file inspection

A‑XI, 2.3

Updated to reflect abolition of accelerated searches, OJ EPO 2025 A69

A‑XI, 4

Added information on the Register for unitary patent protection

PART B

B‑I, 2.2

Updated title and clarified content

B‑I, 2.2.2

Revised wording

B‑II, 4.3.1

Added information on the situation if no supplementary European search report is drawn up

B‑II, 4.3.2

Added references to Rule 62a and Rule 63

B‑II, 4.3.3

Added clarification as to which claims the supplementary European search report is based on

B‑II, 4.4

Added reference to the PCT‑EPO Guidelines

B‑III, 3.11

B‑VIII, 4.1

Change to wording for ease of reading

B‑X, 11.1

B‑X,11.2

B‑X, 11.4

Wording relating to MyEPO updated in view of OJ EPO 2025, A27 and A28

PART C

C‑II, 1.2

Content partially removed to avoid overlap with A‑XIV, 6.3 and A‑XIV, 6.5

C‑II, 5

Restructured by moving content from deleted E‑IX, 2.3.5.1

C‑III, 2

Point (iv) moved from C‑IV, 5

C‑III, 4

Updated in relation to invitations under Rules 161, 162 and Rule 70a

C‑IV, 3

Clarification regarding refusal of applications

C‑IV, 5

Clarification regarding when applicants will be invited to remedy deficiencies

C‑IV, 7.3

Redundant information deleted

C‑V, 4

Clarification regarding communications under Rule 71(3) based on wrong application documents

C‑V, 4.10

Added information on repeated requests for amendment in reply to communications under Rule 71(3)

C‑V, 15.1

Added information on requests for a decision according to the state of the file during oral proceedings

C‑VII, 2.2

Added information on how to proceed when a person is not entitled to act before the EPO

C‑VII, 2.4

Information on contents of minutes of a consultation

C‑VII, 2.6

Additional information on the Shared area

PART D

D‑II, 2.1

Additional information on participation in the proceedings for grant

D‑III, 3.4

Deletion of redundant information

D‑IV, 1.2.2.1

Clarification regarding standard of proof

D‑IV, 2

Wording corrected in line with D‑IV, 1.4.2

D‑IV, 5.2

D‑IV, 5.4

Update on annexed documents, OJ EPO 2022, A28

D‑VI, 4.2

Title adapted to Art. 101(1) and Rule 81(3)

D‑VI, 7.1

Added information on immediate decisions

D‑VII, 1.1

Deletion of redundant information

D‑VII, 1.2

Wording adapted to amended D‑VII, 1.1

D‑VIII, 1.2.1

Added information on legal basis for revoking patent

D‑X, 7.1

Wording changed to include notification by Mailbox

PART E

E‑III, 2

E‑VI, 2

E‑VI, 3

Wording changed to cover all types of notification

E‑III, 8.11.1

Additional information on requests for postponement of oral proceedings

E‑IV, 1.7

Updated to cover oral proceedings by videoconference

E‑IV, 2.2

Redundant information removed

E‑VI, 2.2.1

E‑VIII, 1.8

Additional information on admitting new auxiliary requests

E‑VIII, 1.2

Additional information on time limits

E‑VIII, 5

Added information on accelerated processing of opposition proceedings once parallel court proceedings have ended

PART F

F‑II, 4.1

Added information on formal acceptance of applications drafted in accordance with the CAF agreement

F‑II, 4.4

Title aligned with Rule 48 and F‑II, 7.4

F‑II, 4.13

Added information on how to replace values not complying with Rule 49(2) (e.g. non-SI units)

F‑II, 7.4

Reference to "patent" removed to align content with Rule 48(1)(c)

F‑III, 3

Wording adjusted in view of T 161/18 and T 1191/19 and further detail added on basis of T 1669/21, Reasons 1.8, and in line with F‑III, 12

F‑IV, 3.3

Additional information on Rule 137(5) as a matter of allowability

F‑IV, 4.1

Added positive definition of clarity based on Case Law Book II.A.1 and II.A.3.1

F‑IV, 4.5.4

Clarification that considerations for product claims equally apply to process claims

F‑IV, 4.7.2

Wording aligned with the general definition of clarity (F‑IV, 4.1)

F‑IV, 4.22

Wording adjusted and aligned with F‑IV, 4.1 and F‑IV, 6.4

F‑IV, 4.23

Added information on claims not consecutively numbered in Arabic numerals

F‑IV, 6.5

Reference to section on functional features added

F‑V, 2.2

Clarification that further search fees do not necessarily have to be requested in cases of lack of unity

F‑V, 3

F‑V, 3.3.1

Clarification regarding the assessment of unity of invention for alternative solutions to known problems

F‑VI, 2.1

Added information on reviewing the validity of the priority

PART G

G‑II, 4.2.1

Updated in view of Art. 53(c) (T 775/97) to reflect that product claims formed only through a surgical step inside the body are not allowed

G‑II, 6.2

Clarification of the criteria for considering the requirements of Art. 56 to be fulfilled

G‑IV, 7.5.4

Clarification regarding use of dates reported by a search engine

G‑IV, 7.5.6

Updated to reflect access to online multimedia citations via MyEPO (OJ EPO 2025, A41)

G‑V, 4

Clarification that recognised exhibitions will be published on the website

G‑VI, 1

Title changed in view of revision of F‑IV, 4.6 and deletion of F‑IV, 4.6.1 and 4.6.2

G‑VI, 6.1

Passage moved to new, specific subsection G‑VI, 6.1.2.3 

G‑VI, 6.1.2

Cross-references to G‑VI, 6.1.2.2 added

PART H

H‑II, 2.3

Clarification concerning prima facie assessment

H‑II, 2.3.1

Added examples relating to the use of Rule 137(3)

H‑II, 2.3.2

H‑II, 2.3.3

New subsections on Rule 137(3) in relation to non-unity

H‑II, 2.5.4

Updated information on the examining division’s discretion when sending communications under Rule 137(4)

H‑II, 2.6

H‑II, 3.2

H‑VI, 2.1

H‑VI, 3.1

Harmonisation of wording throughout Guidelines after change to rule on notification

H‑II, 5

Clarification regarding refusal in situations where claims are not amended or cannot be searched, Rule 62a/Rule 63

H‑IV, 2.2.5

Adapted to OJ 2023, A98

H‑IV, 4.1.2

Clarification regarding claimed subject-matter

H‑IV, 4.2

Clarification regarding claimed subject-matter of a Euro-PCT application

H‑VI, 2.2

Updated information on corrections under Rule 139

H‑VI, 3.3

Added information on handling requests for more than one type of correction

H‑VI, 3.3.1

H‑VI, 3.3.1.1

H‑VI, 3.3.1.2

H‑VI, 3.3.2

H‑VI, 3.3.2.1

H‑VI, 3.4

New subsections on correction of errors in bibliographic data and their effect in opposition proceedings, on corrections filed at a late stage and on corrections under Rule 140

General Part

General Part, 9

PART A

A‑II, 1.1.2; A‑II, 1.2; A‑II, 1.5; A‑II, 5.5; A‑II, 6.7; A‑III, 1.2; A‑III, 2.1; A‑III, 3.3; A‑III, 5.1; A‑III, 6.5.3; A‑III, 6.7.1; A‑III, 6.8.1; A‑III, 6.8.2; A‑III, 11.2.1; A‑III 11.3; A‑III, 12.1; A‑III, 13.1; A‑III, 14; A‑III, 16.2; A‑IV, 1.1; A‑IV, 1.3.1; A‑IV, 1.6; A‑IV, 1.8; A‑IV, 4.3; A‑IV, 5.4; A‑V, 3; A‑VI, 2.2; A‑VI, 2.3; A‑VI, 2.4; A‑VI, 2.5; A‑VIII, 1.5; A‑VIII, 2.1; A‑VIII, 2.3; A‑VIII, 2.5; A‑VIII, 3.1; A‑IX, 1.1; A‑IX, 5; A‑IX, 5.1; A‑IX, 5.2; A‑IX, 5.3; A‑IX, 7.5; A‑IX, 7.5.1; A‑IX, 7.5.3; A‑IX, 8; A‑IX, 11.1; A‑IX, 11.2.1; A‑X, 1; A‑X, 4.2.1; A‑X, 5.2.2; A‑X, 5.2.5; A‑X, 5.2.7; A‑IX, 9.4.2; A‑IX, 9.4.3; A‑X, 10.2.1; A‑X, 10.2.6; A‑X, 10.3.1; A‑X, 10.3.2; A‑X, 10.3.3; A‑X, 11.1; A‑XI, 1; A‑XI, 2.5; A‑XI, 3; A‑XI, 5.1

PART B

B‑II, 4.3; B‑III, 3.3.2; B‑IV, 1.2; B‑IV, 2.3; B‑VI, 4.1; B‑X, 9.1.3; B‑XI, 3; B‑XI, 8

PART C

C‑II, 3.2; C‑III, 1.3; C‑III, 2.2; C‑III, 3.2.1; C‑IV, 1; C‑IV, 7.1; C‑IV, 7.5; C‑IV, 8; C‑V, 1.1; C‑V, 4.7.1; C‑V, 14; C‑V, 15.3; C‑V, 15.4; C‑VI, 2; C‑VI, 3; C‑VII, 2.1; C‑VII, 2.3; C‑VII, 3; C‑VIII, 6; C‑VIII, 7; C‑IX, 4

PART D

D‑III, 3.1; D‑III, 3.2; D‑III, 5; D‑IV, 1.2.1; D‑IV, 1.4.2; D‑IV, 3; D‑IV, 5.1; D‑V, 2.2; D‑VI, 3.2; D‑VI, 7.2.2; D‑VII, 4.1.2; D‑VIII; D‑VIII, 2.2

PART E

E‑II, 1.1; E‑II, 2.3; E‑III, 6; E‑III, 8.3.1; E‑III, 8.5; E‑III, 8.7.1; E‑III, 8.7.2; E‑III, 8.7.3; E‑III, 9; E‑IV, 1.4; E‑IV, 1.2; E‑IV, 1.6.1; E‑VI, 2.2.4; E‑VII, 3; E‑VII, 4; E‑VIII, 1.6.1; E‑VIII, 3.1.2; E‑VIII, 3.3; E‑VIII, 8.4; E‑IX, 1.3.3; E‑IX, 2.2; E‑IX, 2.3; E‑IX, 2.4 ; E‑IX, 2.6; E‑IX, 2.9 ; E‑IX, 3; E‑IX, 7; E‑XI, 1; E‑XI, 7.1; E‑XI, 7.4.1; E‑XII, 5.2; E‑XII, 5.4; E‑XIII, 6.1

PART F

F‑II, 2.7; F‑II, 4.8; F‑III, 6.5; F‑IV, 2.4; F‑IV, 4.4 ; F‑IV, 4.10; F‑IV, 6.5; F‑V, 2; F‑V, 3.2.1; F‑V, 3.2.4; F‑V, 7.1; F‑V, 7.2; F‑V, 7.3; F‑VI, 3.3

PART G

G‑II, 3.3.2; G‑VII, 3.1; G‑VII, 5.2

PART H

H‑II, 2.1; H‑II, 2.2; H‑II, 6.2; H‑II, 6.4.1; H‑II, 6.4.2; H‑III, 2.1.1; H‑III, 2.1.4