1. Preliminary remarks 

The present Guidelines are dedicated to the specific procedures before the EPO in its capacity as PCT Authority. Their full name is "Guidelines for Search and Examination at the European Patent Office as PCT Authority", or "PCT‑EPO Guidelines" for short.

These The PCT‑EPO Guidelines are aimed primarily at can be used and referred to by examiners and formalities officers, but are also intended to serve applicants, agents as well as applicants and patent attorneysand other users of the patent system as a basis for illustrating the law and practice in proceedings before the EPO in the international phase of the PCT procedure., in addition to the PCT-RO (Receiving Office) Guidelines and the PCT ISPE (International Search and Preliminary Examination) Guidelines. They are complementary to, but not a substitute for, the ISPE and RO Guidelines, as well as the PCT Applicant's Guide ("WIPO PCT Guide"), all published by WIPO.

TheThey PCT‑EPO Guidelines are published as a standalone document in electronic format only, and will be revised on a yearly basis at the same time as the Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office ("EPC Guidelines"). The electronic publication includes not only the online version in HTML format, but also a printable PDF file.

The current tenth eleventh edition incorporates information from the former Euro-PCT Guidefeatures several updates – most notably in Part A, where additional clarifications have been introduced to ensure clearer guidance., making the PCT‑EPO Guidelines a more comprehensive resource on the international phase at the EPO.

Any indication from readers drawing attention to errors as well as suggestions for improvement is highly appreciated and can be sent by email to Department 5.3.1.1, Patent Filing Process and PCT Affairs, at [email protected].

Any references to persons made in the Guidelines are to be understood as being gender-neutral.