How does the EPO process my connection details?

Your oral proceeding connection details are processed by the EPO in accordance with the EPO's Data Protection Guidelines (see our Data protection and privacy notice).

The EPO may process these details, such as email address or phone number, for the patent grant process, including for file inspection under Article 128 EPC (see the Decision of the President of the EPO dated 13 December 2021 (OJ EPO 2021, A98)).

As a rule, connection details communicated by the parties will thus not be excluded from file inspection, unless a party explicitly requests so or submits its connection details separately.

In general, opposition divisions will not remove connection details when forwarding submissions received during oral proceedings in opposition to other parties, unless there has been a request to do so.

Connection details will also normally not be removed from emails that are attached to the minutes of oral proceedings, unless there is a request to do so. If you wish to exclude your connection details from file inspection, you are advised to apply the required signature to the document attached to the email (Guidelines E-III, 8.5.2). This then eliminates the need to annex the email itself to the minutes.