Rule 4
Unitary Patent Protection Division

(1)A Unitary Patent Protection Division is hereby established within the European Patent Office as a special department within the meaning of Article 143, paragraph 2, EPC.

(2)The tasks entrusted to the European Patent Office in accordance with Rule 1, paragraph 1, shall be carried out under the responsibility of the Unitary Patent Protection Division.

(3)Decisions of the Unitary Patent Protection Division shall be taken by one legally qualified member. 

(4)The President of the European Patent Office may entrust to employees who are not legally qualified members the execution of duties falling to the Unitary Patent Protection Division and involving no legal difficulties.