Decommissioning of online filing (CMS) with effect from 1 January 2022
The EPO's existing web-based online filing service (also known as CMS) will be decommissioned with effect from 1 January 2022. It will be replaced by the EPO's new web-based filing service Online Filing 2.0, which was launched on 1 April 2021. The eOLF and web-form filing services are not affected by this announcement.
Online Filing 2.0 incorporates and improves the features of CMS, covers all procedures before the EPO, including procedures before the Boards of Appeal, and offers a more user-friendly interface.
CMS will continue to run in parallel to Online Filing 2.0 during a transitional period expiring on 31 December 2021, after which CMS will cease to be available.
Users are encouraged to start using Online Filing 2.0 as soon as possible, and to make it part of their daily routine. Smart cards registered for CMS have been automatically registered for Online Filing 2.0 since 1 April 2021.
Users with data stored in CMS will need to transfer data they wish to avail themselves of in Online Filing 2.0 before the end of the transitional period on 31 December 2021. As of 1 January 2022, data stored in CMS will no longer be accessible.
Additional information on the practical aspects of registration and rights administration for Online Filing 2.0 and data migration is available under dedicated FAQ's on both the CMS and Online Filing 2.0 pages.