When drafting the search opinion, the search division takes into consideration any prior-art document provided by the applicant under Rule 141(1) or by the office of first filing under Rule 141(2) (see OJ EPO 2011, 62, OJ EPO 2012, 540, OJ EPO 2013, 216, OJ EPO 2015, A2, and OJ EPO 2016, A18), if available at the time of preparing the opinion (see A‑III, 6.12, and B‑IV, 1.3). Requests for information on prior art under Rule 141(3) may be made only when the application has entered the examination phase (see C‑III, 5).[Art. 124; Rule 141; ]
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/b_xi_9.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021