FAQ How do I file an authorisation in a single application and for multiple applications?
As a rule, professional representatives, legal practitioners and associations do not need to file an authorisation, except in certain circumstances (though employees who are neither professional representatives nor legal practitioners must always file an authorisation or refer to the registration number of a general authorisation; see When do I need to file an authorisation?).
In those cases, the authorisation may be filed either by using one of the online filing services, or on paper.
After a representative withdraws their appointment, no authorisation is required to appoint and register a new one.
A representative may use MyEPO to withdraw directly (see the MyEPO feature guide section on submitting procedural requests and applications).
Where a representative takes over representation for multiple applications/patents and an authorisation is required (when, for example, the previously appointed representative has not withdrawn and the representatives are not members of the same association or law firm), a single, bulk request may be made. In which case:
- Submit the request once, for the first application/patent on the list.
- Include Form 1003 or 1004 (or 7003/7004 for Unitary Patent proceedings) where the authorisation serves as the trigger for the change.
- The EPO will record the change and add the documents to all the applications on the list.
After filing the bulk request online, and to facilitate processing, the list can be sent as an Excel file to [email protected] (see OJ EPO 2019, A79).