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STRUCTURAL REFORM OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL

Note to readers

At the 148th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (Munich, 29 and 30 June 2016), the Council approved a comprehensive reform package concerning the Boards of Appeal. The aims of the reform are to strengthen the Boards' organisational and managerial autonomy and increase their efficiency. The reform takes effect within the existing framework of the European Patent Convention, without requiring its revision. It includes, with effect from 1 July 2016, a new institutional framework, which is being established step by step.

The Boards of Appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal, including their registries and support services, are now organised as a separate unit directed by the President of the Boards of Appeal.

A Boards of Appeal Committee has also been set up.

At the 149th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (Munich, 12 and 13 October 2016), the Council appointed members of the Boards of Appeal Committee, each for a three-year term from 13 October 2016.

At the 150th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (Munich, 14 and 15 December 2016), Mr CARL JOSEFSSON was appointed as President of the Boards of Appeal.

The main documents1 concerning the structural reform of the Boards of Appeal are:
CA/16/15, 06.03.2015 (Proposal for a structural reform of the EPO Boards of Appeal);
CA/43/16 Rev. 1, 30.06.2016 (Reform of the Boards of Appeal);
CA/D 6/16, 30.06.2016, OJ EPO 2016, A100 (Decision of the Administrative Council amending the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention);
CA/D 7/16, 30.06.2016, OJ EPO 2016, A101 (Decision of the Administrative Council setting up a Boards of Appeal Committee and adopting its Regulations).