Article 32

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

Information from the EPO

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 7 April 2025 concerning the audio recording of oral proceedings for the purpose of preparing the minutes of oral proceedings with the assistance of artificial intelligence

The President of the European Patent Office, having regard to Article 10(2)(a) EPC and Rule 124(1) EPC has decided as follows:

Article 1

Audio recordings of oral proceedings

(1) Oral proceedings held by videoconference before the Receiving Section, examining divisions, opposition divisions and the Legal Division may be audio recorded by the EPO for the purpose of preparing the minutes of oral proceedings with the assistance of artificial intelligence. These recordings will be deleted once the minutes of oral proceedings are issued to the parties to proceedings.

(2) The recording or transmittal of oral proceedings in any form by participants other than EPO employees is prohibited.

Article 2

Entry into force

(1) This decision enters into force on 1 May 2025 and applies to all oral proceedings scheduled to take place on or after that date.

(2) It supersedes the notice of the Vice-Presidents Directorates-General 2 and 3 dated 25 February 1986 concerning sound recording devices in oral proceedings before the EPO (OJ EPO 1986, 63a).

Done at Munich, 7 April 2025

António CAMPINOS

President