What is the shared area feature?

Personal consultation can sometimes help to advance the process. It is already possible for applicants and first members to arrange a consultation, normally by videoconference, to discuss a case informally. The shared area feature now allows you to upload documents and jointly edit them with the first member of the examining division during such a consultation. "Track Changes" is on by default, showing you what changes were made to the document, who made them and when. There is also a chat function.

As for any consultation, there will be minutes summarising the main results (see Guidelines C-VII, 2.4). If relevant for the result of a consultation, documents modified during the consultation can be downloaded and attached to the minutes of the conversation or to the reply to the EPO's communication.

Documents uploaded to or jointly edited in the shared area are not considered as having been filed with the EPO or notified by the EPO. Any submissions must be filed using other means.

The documents uploaded to the shared area are not public.

The legal and procedural framework for consultations involving the use of the shared area remains the same as the one applicable to all personal consultations (see Guidelines C-VII, 2.1–2.5).