Part IV – Implementing Regulations to Part IV of the Convention
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Chapter IV – Examination by the Examining Division

Overview

Rule 7191,92,93
Examination procedure

16th edition: this version presents the text in force on 1 July 2020.

(1) In any communication under Article 94, paragraph 3, the Examining Division shall, where appropriate, invite the applicant to correct any deficiencies noted and to amend the description, claims and drawings within a period to be specified.

(2) Any communication under Article 94, paragraph 3, shall contain a reasoned statement covering, where appropriate, all the grounds against the grant of the European patent.

(3)94 Before the Examining Division decides to grant the European patent, it shall inform the applicant of the text in which it intends to grant it and of the related bibliographic data. In this communication the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to pay the fee for grant and publishing and to file a translation of the claims in the two official languages of the European Patent Office other than the language of the proceedings within four months.  

(4) If the European patent application in the text intended for grant comprises more than fifteen claims, the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to pay claims fees in respect of the sixteenth and each subsequent claim within the period under paragraph 3 unless the said fees have already been paid under Rule 45 or Rule 162.

(5) If the applicant, within the period laid down in paragraph 3, pays the fees under paragraph 3 and, where applicable, paragraph 4 and files the translations under paragraph 3, he shall be deemed to have approved the text communicated to him under paragraph 3 and verified the bibliographic data.

(6) If the applicant, within the period under paragraph 3, requests reasoned amendments or corrections to the communicated text or keeps to the latest text submitted by him, the Examining Division shall issue a new communication under paragraph 3 if it gives its consent; otherwise it shall resume the examination proceedings.

(7) If the fee for grant and publishing or the claims fees are not paid in due time, or if the translations are not filed in due time, the European patent application shall be deemed to be withdrawn. 


91See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 10/93, G 1/02, G 1/10 (Annex I).

92Paragraphs 3-7 amended, paragraphs 8-11 deleted and Rule 71a inserted by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 2/10 of 26.10.2010 (OJ EPO 2010, 637), entered into force on 01.04.2012.

93See the notice from the EPO, OJ EPO 2012, 52.

94See notice from the EPO concerning the possibility to waive the right to a further communication under Rule 71(3) EPC, OJ EPO 2015, A52.See the notice from the EPO dated 26.05.2020 concerning abolition of the option to waive the right to a further communication under Rule 71(3) EPC (OJ EPO 2020, A73).

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EPC - Reference
  • Art. 86, 97, 123
    R. 70, 71a
Version history
  • 13.12.2007 - 31.03.2008 
    Decision of the Administrative Council of 07.12.2006 (CA/D 10/06), (OJ EPO 2007, 8 and Special edition 1/2007)
    01.04.2008 - 31.03.2009 
    CA/D 2/08 (OJ EPO 2008, 124)
    01.04.2009 - 31.03.2012 
    CA/D 7/08 (OJ EPO 2008, 513)
    01.04.2012 -  
    CA/D 2/10 (OJ EPO 2010, 637)
Cross-reference list
  • EPC EPC 1973
    R. 71R. 71(1)-(3) R. 51(2) - (4)
    R. 71(4) R. 51(7)
    R. 71(5)-(6) R. 51(5) (elmts)
    R. 71(7) R. 51(8)
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