CMS is being decommissioned with effect from 1 January 2022.
From 1 January 2022 you can use Online Filing 2.0 (which replaces CMS), Online Filing and Web-Form Filing. You can use ePCT to file international patent applications under the PCT and documents relating to such applications.
From 1 January 2022 it will no longer be possible to access CMS. It will be removed from the EPO website.
No. We strongly recommend that you transfer data of interest before the end of the transitional period.
No. Users with the relevant access rights can transfer the data. See the next points.
No. Users with the relevant access rights can export the address book from CMS and import it into Online Filing 2.0.
Open CMS, and export your address book in CSV UTF-8 format. In Online Filing 2.0, Administration tab, select Address book and click Import.
The column headings in the CMS address book you want to import into Online Filing 2.0 must be in English. To avoid having to make manual changes following migration, we recommend switching the CMS GUI language to English before you export the address book. The export language will not impact the content of the address book: once imported into Online Filing 2.0, the countries will be shown in the GUI language set in Online Filing 2.0 (French, German or English).
After the export, you can switch the CMS GUI language back to French or German.
Online Filing 2.0 does not permit the import of submitted applications, including submission packages and receipts. These can only be exported from CMS to your computer. By contrast, it is possible to migrate submissions in draft status from CMS to Online Filing 2.0.
Yes, you can migrate templates. In CMS open the template you want to export and click Use for new application. A new application is created in “draft” status, which can now be exported like a submission. Click Export; the submission is exported in ZIP format to your computer. In Online Filing 2.0, Administration tab, choose Submission imports and click Import submission. Drag and drop or upload the ZIP file and click Import. Your submission is imported as a submission in “draft” status, and can be found under the Submissions tab. To save as a template, select the submission, click Edit, and click Save as template when the submission opens.
You can export up to 25 applications from CMS; this will create one ZIP file which will contain the 25 applications in ZIP format. Online Filing 2.0 does not support the import of large files, which means that you need to import all 25 ZIPs one by one.
If you are a registered CMS user, you have been given access to Online Filing 2.0 in demo mode. If you are an administrator in CMS you are automatically defined as an administrator in Online Filing 2.0 and you are able to access the demo and the production environment.
If you are not an administrator in CMS and you want to get access to the production environment of Online Filing 2.0, you need to contact the administrator of your organisation.
If you have never used CMS, fill in and submit the registration form. We will process it and inform you when you can start using Online Filing 2.0.
You will be able to start using Online Filing 2.0 on the first working day following receipt of the email confirmation from us.
If you need help, please use our contact form (select the topic Online services / patent searches and the subject Online Filing 2.0).
We offer a user guide:
The new online filing (CMS) is the EPO’s new web service. It allows users to work on and file applications together with other users from the same organisation.
The new online filing (CMS) service is free of charge.
The existing fee reductions for filing in electronic form are also applicable to the CMS.
Anyone with an activated smart card can use the new online filing (CMS). All you have to do is fill in the online registration form. (See “User registration”).
Use the Online registration form for new online filing (CMS).
Once you submit the form, the EPO customer services will process your registration and inform you when you can start using the CMS.
If you have organisation administration rights you can register anyone from your organisation who holds an activated smart card.
The Account Management tab contains an overview of all the registered users in your organisation. All you have to do is select Register new user to my organisation.
You will be able to start using the CMS on the first working day following receipt of the e-mail confirmation from the EPO’s Customer Desk
Yes, you can, provided you have organisation administration rights. This allows you to manage user profiles within the Account Management tab.
You need a smart card to access the CMS. If you already have one for OLF, you can also use it for the CMS.
Yes, with the new online filing (CMS) you need to be logged in with a smart card at all times, including during the signing process.
You can order your smart card online via the EPO’s website. We will send you a starter kit consisting of a smart card and smart card reader.
You can check the functioning of your smart card and certificates as follows:
Click on Start -> Programs -> Gemalto -> Classic Client -> Classic Client Toolbox -> Certificates. You will see the window below, with the reader icons shown.
Please contact EPO Customer Services.
If this happens, please contact EPO Customer Services.
Software certificates are similar to those stored on smart cards, but they are not secured by a hardware mechanism such as the chip on a smart card. The EPO does not at present accept authentication using software certificates.
Yes, the new online filing (CMS) allows user access via associated user role(s).
Yes, the “least privilege principle” is applied when new users and new roles are created.
Yes, sessions are timed out if the user is inactive for a prolonged period.
Owing to technical improvements made with effect from 27 September 2015, you can no longer access CMS using Windows XP in conjunction with either Internet Explorer 8 or Chrome.
To access CMS, either
To file documents online via the new online filing (CMS), you need equipment capable of accepting a USB smart card reader and its software drivers, and an internet browser.
As a web application, this service does not require users to install any applications on their own workstations other than the smart card reader driver (see “What software do I need to install to use the EPO smart card?”).
To set your smart card up, you need to install two software packages:
You can download the most recent version of these software packages at
Gemalto is password-protected. Please contact EPO Customer Services to obtain your password.
Most recent internet browsers are supported by the application, as long as they support the TLS 1.0 protocol to enable HTTPS transactions.
Adobe Acrobat Reader version 11 or higher must be installed on the computer for Online filing to work. No other PDF readers or other versions of Acrobat are supported.
The new online filing (CMS) can only be used online. No offline mode is available.
You could try the Settings and quick access guide for the new online filing (CMS). Alternatively, please contact our Customer Services.
There is no public document on the architecture and technical specifications of the application. User manuals are available either via the tool itself or on the EPO website.
When you are logged in on the new online filing (CMS), simply click on the tab Online Help. You can also consult the User manual from the EPO website.
Please contact EPO Customer Services.
Documents filed via the new online filing (CMS) can be signed by facsimile signature or by text-string signature. Example: /John Smith /
The EPO does not at present accept any applications signed or submitted using soft certificates. This includes applications filed using the new online filing (CMS).
The EPO has developed information security policies and standards that are in line with the ISO 27001:2013 standard. We reassess the compliance of the CMS with these policies before each major new release.
Yes, the EPO integrates security design and testing into the development lifecycle, both internally and when working with recognised third parties.
The new online filing system is a web-based application that does not require access to any external source of information. The only information processed by the EPO is that which has been actively entered and uploaded by the user.
The new online filing (CMS) is a web application. As such, only cookies are stored locally. These merely contain context information used to enhance the user experience in accordance with web development standards.
The use of smart cards means that user credentials can be protected within the cards themselves, and therefore only public keys are stored within the system.
Logs are implemented in accordance with EPO security policies. User transactions and uploaded information are scrutinised from a security perspective (including DDoS, malware, etc...), but the logs do not store any user data. Access to the logs is restricted to accredited employees from the EPO’s information security department, under the authority of the Chief Information Security Officer, and subject to the recommendations and advice of the Data Protection Officer.
With the new online filing (CMS) application you can file EP Form 1001 (EP direct), EP Form 1200 (Euro-PCT), PCT/RO/101 and EP Form 1038 (subsequent actions for all EP and PCT procedures, including PCT Chapter II demand, documents in respect of appeal proceedings and notice of opposition (PDF only)).
No.
Documents which are not allowed to be filed are deemed not to have been received.
The representative must ask for the original documents as submitted to the competent receiving Office and then complete the “Number of pages” section by entering the correct number; any discrepancies with the pamphlet, Article 20 PCT documents received from WIPO or amendments filed will be corrected by the EPO. If the original documents are not available:
Under “Documents”, click on the pencil symbol in the “Document overview” box and three separate windows will subsequently pop up, for “Description”, “Claims” and “Drawings”. Fill them in as follows:
In the Description window, tick the “International application as published” checkbox and type a “1” in the “Number of pages” box. Then click “Next” and the next pop-up window concerning the claims will appear. Here, in the Claims window, type in the number of claims, tick the “International application as published” checkbox and type a “1” in the “Number of pages” box. Then click “Next” and the next pop-up window concerning the drawings will appear. Here, in the Drawings window, tick the “International application as published” checkbox and type a “1” in the “Number of pages” box. Finish by clicking “Next”.
You can start using Form 1038 at any stage, regardless of how you filed your documents previously. The CMS is simply a new channel for sending documents to the EPO.
Yes, in the Documents tab of your application go to the System-generated table, then select Export file. Click on the Download link to trigger the download of a zip file which contains all the documents you submitted to the EPO, including the acknowledgement of receipt from the EPO. These documents can be exported and saved in PDF or XML format.
As from 1 January 2016 applicants are required to use the dedicated request form (EPO Form 1005), which must be filed online.
The EPO will not process requests filed informally, i.e. without using the dedicated form, and/or on paper”.
In CMS, the document (EPO Form 1005) has to be added to Form 1038 by choosing “Request for accelerated search/examinitation” under the document types “Non-public”.
It is not sufficient to request accelerated search/examinitation (PACE) using the Remarks tab in the CMS software.
The UIBM has introduced a new online numbering system. Under the new system, a national patent has a number in the format XXYYYYZZZZZZZZZ, where XX identifies the type of IP concerned, YYYY the year of filing and ZZZZZZZZZ a nine-digit sequential number (e.g. 102014000000158).Users requesting a novelty search for a national patent they intend to file at the European Patent Office must continue to quote the application number in the "old" format, i.e. MI2014A000158.The old application number is easy to find through the national database on the UIBM website using the code search (ricerca per codice).
If you cannot find the old number use the following workaround:
Write “Remarks” in the field foreseen for the number of the priority document
To guarantee compliance, you should ensure that your PDF generator and resulting PDFs meet the following criteria:
To ensure that the PDF files you create will be accepted by the new online filing application you can also use the Amyuni PDF converter. Please contact EPO Customer Services about this.
Under the tabs from page and to page, you should enter the number of pages with claims (e.g. 1-3) and not the sequence number of the pages in the specification document (e.g. 16 -18).
Please ensure that your PDF documents meet the following requirements:
If the problem persists, contact EPO Customer Services or WIPO direct.
To ensure that the PDF files you create will be accepted by the new online filing application you can also use the Amyuni PDF converter. Please contact EPO Customer Services about this.
For more information about PDF, TIFF and JPG formats see the WIPO website
You should first convert the PatXML application (pxml and tiff files) to a single zip file. Then attach this zip file as Specification in XML format to the CMS form.
You can indicate that one or more supplementary international search reports were drawn up in the international phase by mentioning the relevant Supplementary International Searching Authority (SISA) or Authorities in the Remarks field in the EP Phase tab on Form EP 1200. You do not need to file a copy of the supplementary international search report as WIPO will transmit it direct to the EPO.
To confirm that you are an entity within the meaning of Rule 6(4) EPC, simply tick the appropriate check box under Application in EPO Form 1001.
There is a known issue with Windows 64-bit systems running Internet Explorer 11. The Adobe Reader plug-in does not display content in this browser version. We recommend using a 32-bit Internet Explorer version or using the download link to review PDF files.
IE11 has some incompatibility settings with Adobe Reader. We recommend that you use another browser or force IE11 to work in a lower version mode (IE10). This can be done in the developer tools (F12 developer tools, -> Browser Mode IE10).
The same message may appear if the smart card connection is not working. That might happen if the Gemalto software is not installed correctly and/or if the smart card is not inserted in the reader.
If you see this message, you should verify the settings for the SSL and TLS protocols, as shown in the screenshot below.
If you are not prompted to enter your smart card PIN when trying to connect to the CMS, you should check that the Gemalto software is installed correctly.
To access the CMS, the settings need to be updated as follows:
Go to Internet Options and select the Advanced tab.
Check that the options on your browser match the following screen:
Yes. In the Address book tab, select Import from file or Export address book. Note: You must have Address book management enabled in your profile to access this tab.
No. You can simply use "Region/EP" to designate all states.
To create a blank template for an international application, you need to go to the Templates tab and create a "Form PCT/RO/101" from the New template section.
All registered users in the same organisation can all access each other’s applications. Multiple users can access and work in the same application as long as they do not edit the same window.
If more than one user edits the same window of the same application at the same time, the user who saves the window the first will have his/her update saved.
Yes. When a new version is released, the EPO sends out a system message to all new online filing (CMS) users. A pop-up message will be automatically displayed the next time a user will login after the release.
Previous system messages can be consulted from the System messages tab.
Following the entry into force of amended Rule 19 EPC on 1 April 2021, when designating inventors applicants are no longer required to indicate the full addresses of the inventors, but instead only their country and place of residence. The place of residence is the city or other municipality where the inventor permanently resides, including the postal code (where available).
Generated Form 1002 has likewise been amended so that it no longer shows the full addresses of inventors.
The option afforded to inventors under Rule 20(1) EPC to waive their right to be mentioned remains unaffected.
For further information, see OJ EPO 2021, A12.
Following the entry into force of amended Rule 19 EPC on 1 April 2021, the EPO no longer notifies inventors of their designation in a patent application. This means that there is no longer a need for inventors to be able to waive their right to be notified.
For further information, see OJ EPO 2021, A12.
Within the document, go to File => Print and select the Amyuni PDF Converter from the list of printers, then click OK. You will need to give the resulting PDF file a name. The Amyuni PDF Converter is set up as a regular printer and can convert data from any software with printing ability.
You can also use any other PDF converter as long as the resulting PDFs comply with the Annex F standard. By using the Amyuni PDF converter, you can always be sure that your documents are Annex-F-compliant.
You can use PatXML, a software tool which allows you to use Microsoft Word to create EP and PCT patent applications in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format (technical documents only).
XML applications will be accepted in version 1.11 of the new online filing (CMS).
In the pre-conversion archive you can add the documents (description, claims, abstract, drawings) that you have attached to your application in PDF or XML format in their original format (e.g. MS Word) in a .zip file.
The new version 5.0.1.3 of the Amyuni PDF converter is password protected. Please contact Customer Services for a password.
In the Documents tab, select the type Sequence listing – part of the international application and attach a sequence listing in accordance with Annex C/WIPO Standard ST.25 text format (*.app or *.txt) as part of an international application filed in electronic form, without attaching the sequence listing in *.pdf format.
The number of pages will be automatically set to zero, so that the sequence listing is not added to the number of pages to be paid.
The date of receipt is the date on which you complete the submission process.
A detailed acknowledgment of receipt is immediately available for download in the Documents tab of your application. You can also access it by clicking on the Application number hyperlink.
The application number is immediately displayed at the top of your application and is indicated on the acknowledgement of receipt.
Very occasionally the allocation process may be delayed. If this is the case the application number will be communicated to you later.
