Preview versions of Guidelines 2026 published – send us your feedback!
Today the EPO publishes the English preview versions of the EPC, PCT-EPO and UP Guidelines 2026. The Guidelines 2026 enter into force on 1 April 2026.
You have now the opportunity to familiarise with the latest Guidelines editions and to participate in the annual user consultation by providing feedback on all three Guidelines. The consultation website will be open for comments until 3 April 2026, and all contributions will be taken into consideration in the revision cycle for the 2027 edition of the Guidelines.
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 (EPC), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and their Implementing Regulations. The Unitary Patent Guidelines (“UP Guidelines”) outline the practice and procedures involved in obtaining, maintaining and managing Unitary Patents before the EPO.
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.
The anonymised comments will be discussed with the members of the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines in the first of their two annual meetings on 12 May 2026.
We value your input and look forward to receiving your feedback.
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Feedback on EPC, PCT-EPO and UP Guidelines can still be filed until 7 April