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Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office

March 2022 2023

 

List of Contents 
General Part
Contents 
 
1.
Preliminary remarks
2.
Explanatory notes
3.
General remarks
4.
Work at the EPO
5.
Summary of the processing of applications and patents at the EPO
6.
Contracting states to the EPC
7.
Extension to and validation in states not party to the EPC
Part A – Guidelines for Formalities Examination
Contents 
 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Filing of applications and examination on filing
Chapter III
Examination of formal requirements
Chapter IV
Special provisions
Chapter V
Communications concerning formal deficiencies; amendment of application; correction of errors
Chapter VI
Publication of application; request for examination and transmission of the dossier to examining division
Chapter VII
Languages
Chapter VIII
Common provisions
Chapter IX
Drawings
Chapter X
Fees
Chapter XI
Inspection of files; communication of information contained in files; consultation of the European Patent Register; issuance of certified copies

 

Part B – Guidelines for Search
Contents 
 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
General
Chapter III
Characteristics of the search
Chapter IV
Search procedure and strategy
Chapter V
Preclassification, IPC and CPC classification of European patent applications
Chapter VI
The state of the art at the search stage
Chapter VII
Unity of invention
Chapter VIII
Subject-matter to be excluded from the search
Chapter IX
Search documentation
Chapter X
Search report
Chapter XI
The search opinion

 

Part C – Guidelines for Procedural Aspects of Substantive Examination
Contents 
 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Formal requirements to be met before the division starts substantive examination
Chapter III
The first stage of examination
Chapter IV
Examination of replies and further stages of examination
Chapter V
The final stage of examination
Annex
Standard marks for indicating amendments or corrections by the divisions
Chapter VI
Time limits and acceleration of examination
Chapter VII
Other procedures in examination
Chapter VIII
Work within the examining division
Chapter IX
Special applications

 

Part D – Guidelines for Opposition and Limitation/Revocation Procedures
Contents 
 
Chapter I
General remarks
Chapter II
The opposition division
Chapter III
Opposition
Chapter IV
Procedure up to substantive examination
Chapter V
Substantive examination of opposition
Chapter VI
Procedure for the examination of the opposition
Chapter VII
Details and special features of the proceedings
Chapter VIII
Decisions of the opposition division
Chapter IX
Costs
Chapter X
Limitation and revocation procedure

 

Part E – Guidelines on General Procedural Matters
Contents 
 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Communications and notifications
Chapter III
Oral proceedings
Chapter IV
Taking and conservation of evidence
Chapter V
Derogations from the language of the proceedings in oral proceedings
Chapter VI
Examination by the EPO of its own motion; facts, evidence or grounds not submitted in due time; observations by third parties
Chapter VII
Interruption, stay and consolidation of the proceedings
Chapter VIII
Time limits, loss of rights, further and accelerated processing and re-establishment of rights
Chapter IX
Applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Chapter X
Decisions
Chapter XI
Impartiality of the examining or opposition division
Chapter XII
Appeals
Chapter XIII
Request from a national court for a technical opinion concerning a European patent
Chapter XIV
Registration of changes of name, transfers, licences and other rights

 

Part F – The European Patent Application
Contents 
 
Chapter I
Introduction
Chapter II
Content of a European patent application (other than claims)
Annex 1
Checklist for considering the abstract (see F‑II, 2.5)
Annex 2
Units recognised in international practice and complying with Rule 49(10) (see F‑II, 4.13)
Chapter III
Sufficiency of disclosure
Chapter IV
Claims (Art. 84 and formal requirements)
Annex
Examples concerning essential features
Chapter V
Unity of invention
Chapter VI
Priority

 

Part G – Patentability
Contents 
 
Chapter I
Patentability
Chapter II
Inventions
Chapter III
Industrial application
Chapter IV
State of the art
Chapter V
Non-prejudicial disclosures
Chapter VI
Novelty
Chapter VII
Inventive step
Annex
Examples relating to the requirement of inventive step – indicators

 

Part H – Amendments and Corrections
Contents 
 
Chapter I
The right to amend
Chapter II
Admissibility of amendments – general rules
Chapter III
Admissibility of amendments – other procedural matters
Chapter IV
Allowability of amendments – Art. 123(2) and (3)
Chapter V
Allowability of amendments – examples
Chapter VI
Correction of errors

 

Index for Computer‑Implemented Inventions
Guidelines for Examination Alphabetical keyword index
List of sections amended in 2023 revision

 

 

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