Parties other than the petitioner are not to be involved in the first stage of petition for review proceedings (R. 109(3) EPC; R 7/14). In R 5/08 the Enlarged Board held that non-petitioner parties, as long as they are not involved, have no right to be heard that could be violated. Although not summoned to oral proceedings in the first stage, non-petitioner parties may, however, attend such proceedings which are public.