Article 51

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

Information from the EPO

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 7 July 2025 concerning the update to the DOCX definition for filing with the European Patent Office (version 2)

1. The Online Filing 2.0 pilot project on DOCX filing has been running since 4 May 2020.1 Until now, application documents filed as part of this pilot could be in DOCX OOXML only and had to be filed as a single document comprising all elements of the application (description, claims, abstract, any drawings).

2. Following feedback from pilot participants, the definition of "DOCX" applicable for the purposes of the Online Filing 2.0 project2 is now being expanded to allow drawings to be uploaded and filed as a separate document in PDF. Any drawings in PDF must comply with Annex F to the Administrative Instructions under the PCT. As of 1 October 2025, they may be in black and white, colour or greyscale.3

3. Drawings may still be filed in DOCX in the single file making up the application document, in black and white or, as of 1 October 2025, in colour or greyscale.³

4. The definition of "DOCX" has been updated accordingly.4 It applies to all applications filed as part of the Online Filing 2.0 pilot project with a filing date on or after 1 October 2025.