Open for public consultation: EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines
The EPO today launched a public consultation on its Guidelines and invites interested parties to provide input. You can submit your comments in any one of the EPO's three official languages via an online form. The deadline for submissions is 15 April 2020.
The Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office ("EPC Guidelines") and the Guidelines for Search and Examination at the European Patent Office as PCT Authority ("PCT-EPO Guidelines") give instructions on the practices and procedures to be followed in the examination of European and international applications and patents in accordance with the European Patent Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty and their Implementing Regulations.
The Guidelines are a vital resource for illustrating the law and practice in proceedings before the EPO and are widely consulted by external parties. They are revised annually to keep them aligned with the latest legal and procedural developments.
In its Strategic Plan the EPO outlines its commitment to greater user involvement in the revision of Guidelines. In November 2019, the Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines) supported the proposal to launch a public online user consultation. This will provide all external patent system users with an opportunity to comment on both the EPC and PCT Guidelines.
The EPO values your input and looks forward to your feedback.
Further information