How are the breaks organised?

During breaks in oral proceedings in opposition, the division will change to a non-public virtual deliberation room. The parties and any members of the public present will remain in the virtual oral proceedings room (unless a party has requested a private deliberation room, see the questions on the videoconferencing tool for more information on deliberation rooms). They can mute their microphones and switch off their video images.

In oral proceedings in examination, all those attending for the applicant will return to the waiting room during breaks. The examining division will deliberate in the virtual oral proceedings room. Before the oral proceedings are resumed, those attending for the applicant will be readmitted to the virtual oral proceedings room. In the waiting room it is not possible to communicate with one another via Zoom.