A.14 EPC Languages of the European Patent Office, European patent applications and other documents

(1)
The official languages of the European Patent Office shall be English, French and German. 
(2)
A European patent application shall be filed in one of the official languages or, if filed in any other language, translated into one of the official languages in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Throughout the proceedings before the European Patent Office, such translation may be brought into conformity with the application as filed. If a required translation is not filed in due time, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn. 
(3)
The official language of the European Patent Office in which the European patent application is filed or into which it is translated shall be used as the language of the proceedings in all proceedings before the European Patent Office, unless the Implementing Regulations provide otherwise. 
(4)
Natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business within a Contracting State having a language other than English, French or German as an official language, and nationals of that State who are resident abroad, may file documents which have to be filed within a time limit in an official language of that State. They shall, however, file a translation in an official language of the European Patent Office in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. If any document, other than those documents making up the European patent application, is not filed in the prescribed language, or if any required translation is not filed in due time, the document shall be deemed not to have been filed. 
(5)
European patent applications shall be published in the language of the proceedings. 
(6)
Specifications of European patents shall be published in the language of the proceedings and shall include a translation of the claims in the other two official languages of the European Patent Office. 
(7)
The following shall be published in the three official languages of the European Patent Office: 
(a)
the European Patent Bulletin; 
(b)
the Official Journal of the European Patent Office. 
(8)
Entries in the European Patent Register shall be made in the three official languages of the European Patent Office. In cases of doubt, the entry in the language of the proceedings shall be authentic. 
 
[ Art. 70 80 90 92 93 97 98 103 127 129 R. 3 7 36 40 49 61 68 112 ]
Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. 
See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 6/91, G 2/95, G 4/08 (Annex I).

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EPC Articles

EPC Implementing Rules

EPC Rules relating to Fees

EPO Guidelines - A Formalities Examination

EPO Guidelines - B Search

EPO Guidelines - C Procedureal Aspects of Substantive Examination

EPO Guidelines - D Opposition and Limitation/Revocation Procedures

EPO Guidelines - E General Procedural Matters

EPO Guidelines - G Patentability

EPO Guidelines - H Amendments and Corrections

EPO PCT GL - A Formalities Examination

EPO Guide for Applicants, part II Int. - C The EPO as ISA and SISA

Offical Journal of the EPO

Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application

Case Law Book: III Amendments

Case Law Book: IV Divisional Applications

Case Law Book: VI Rules Common to all Proceedings

Case Law of the Enlarged Board

General Case Law