Article 53
Citation: OJ EPO 2025, A53
Online publication date: 31.7.2025
EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
Information from the EPO
Notice from the European Patent Office dated 8 July 2025 concerning the decommissioning of EPO Online Filing (OLF)
1. The EPO's filing service EPO Online Filing (OLF) will be decommissioned with effect from 1 January 2026.1 The EPO's web-based filing service Online Filing 2.0 is the tool of choice for filing with the EPO. There is also the possibility to file certain types of submission via MyEPO.2 Moreover, the EPO Contingency Upload Service offers an alternative way of submitting documents in urgent cases.3
2. OLF will continue to run until 31 December 2025, after which it will cease to be available for filings directly with the EPO.
3. Users are encouraged to start using Online Filing 2.0 as soon as possible. It is accessed via the EPO's website using an EPO account registered for Online Filing 2.0 and a means of authentication allowed by the EPO. Users can choose from among several two-factor authentication methods, as detailed on the EPO website.4 Currently, these are Okta Verify, Google Authenticator, phone text message (SMS), phone call and email.
4. Users with data saved in OLF can transfer it to Online Filing 2.0. Straightforward export and import functions make it easy to transfer the address book, draft submissions and submission templates saved in OLF to Online Filing 2.0. However, while OLF supports the export of submitted submissions, including submission packages and receipts, Online Filing 2.0 only permits such data to be imported in draft status.
5. The EPO also offers application programming interfaces (APIs) to exchange data between IP management systems and MyEPO services.5 Those currently available include the Online Filing 2.0 API for submitting EP forms and the MyEPO API for retrieving and updating Mailbox content and information about applications.
6. Additional information on the practical aspects of registration and rights administration for Online Filing 2.0, data migration and APIs is available on the EPO's website.6
7. European patent applications can be filed electronically with those competent national authorities under Article 75 EPC that so permit. Users should contact the relevant national authority for information on the services it provides.7
1 See the decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 8 July 2025 concerning the electronic filing of documents (OJ EPO 2025, A52).
2 See the decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 9 February 2024 concerning the web-based online service MyEPO Portfolio and electronic notification to the Mailbox in proceedings under the EPC and the PCT (OJ EPO 2024, A20) and the notice from the European Patent Office dated 9 February 2024 concerning new features of MyEPO Portfolio (OJ EPO 2024, A21).
3 See the notice from the European Patent Office dated 3 May 2023 concerning new milestones for EPO online services (OJ EPO 2023, A50).
4 epo.org/en/applying/myepo-services/get-access.
5 epo.org/en/applying/myepo-services/understand/api.
6 epo.org/en/applying/myepo-services/file-with-us.
7 Contact information can be found in chapter I of the publication "National Law relating to EPC", available at epo.org/en/legal/national-law.