Guidelines 2025 enter into force
On 1 April 2025 the 2025 editions of the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO (EPC Guidelines), the Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority (PCT-EPO Guidelines) and the Unitary Patent Guidelines (UP Guidelines) entered into force. They have been published on our website in the organisation’s three official languages, superseding the March 2024 editions.
The EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines are available for download in PDF format and online in HTML format. The PDF version is available as a “clean copy” and as a marked-up document showing the modifications which have been made. Within the HTML version, modifications can be displayed by selecting the “Show modifications” box in the top right-hand corner. A full list of the sections which have been amended, together with corresponding hyperlinks, is published alongside the corresponding Guidelines.
This is the first year the EPO has published UP Guidelines, which are available online in HTML format.
Public consultation
In February 2025, a preview of the Guidelines was published, alongside the launch of a public consultation on the 2025 editions, which will be open until 7 April 2025.
We encourage you to submit comments via the dedicated webform. These anonymised comments will be reviewed by the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines in May 2025. Your feedback will enable us to better understand your needs and help us improve the 2026 editions of the EPC, PCT-EPO and UP Guidelines.
Thank you in advance for your valuable feedback.
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Preview versions of the EPC, PCT-EPO and UP Guidelines 2025 are published as of today. Our annual user consultation is now open for your feedback.
Connecting users and professional representatives before the EPO
Guidelines on EPC, PCT-EPO and Unitary Patent to be the most comprehensive ever
