Time limits in the EPC have two conceptual elements: firstly, a period of time determined in years, months or days, and secondly, a relevant date, which serves as the starting date of the time limit, and from which the period of time is counted (J 18/04, OJ 2006, 560). The term "deadline" is broader than the terms "time limit" and "period" as it encompasses any last date for validly performing an action and says nothing about the nature of the underlying time restriction (J 10/12).