Closing the eOLF chapter: Online Filing 2.0 is now the standard tool
The European Patent Office (EPO) has transitioned to a standard online filing environment. Today, Online Filing 2.0 replaces the legacy eOLF tool as the standard for filing patent applications and related requests.
In line with Strategic Plan 2028 and the goal of achieving a fully digitalised patent granting process by 2027, the EPO has officially decommissioned its desktop-based Online Filing (eOLF) software.
As of today, the eOLF tool is no longer available. Online Filing 2.0 (OLF 2.0) is the standard tool for filing patent applications online. OLF 2.0, already in use by most applicants in recent years, offers a secure, browser-based environment that requires no installation or updates. Other procedural requests may be submitted online either via OLF 2.0 or, where available, through MyEPO.
Full information on how to access and use OLF 2.0 is available on the EPO’s website, along with tutorials on the EPO’s YouTube channel (see links below). The relevant information was also published in the Official Journal of 31 July.
Backup in case OLF 2.0 is unavailable
As a fallback, if standard EPO filing services are temporarily unavailable, the EPO Contingency Upload Service can be used as a last-resort filing method. Nevertheless, users should use our regular online tools whenever possible to benefit from built-in business validations and faster processing.
Using the Online Filing software (eOLF) for filing with national offices
If you have questions regarding the use of eOLF with national patent offices, please contact the respective national office directly.
