Under R. 128 EPC notification may be effected on the premises of the EPO by delivery by hand of the document to the addressee, who must on delivery acknowledge its receipt. Notification is deemed to have been effected even if the addressee refuses to accept the document or to acknowledge receipt thereof.

If the address of the addressee cannot be established, or if notification in accordance with R. 126(1) EPC has proved to be impossible even after a second attempt, notification shall be effected by public notice (R. 129(1) EPC). In this case, the EPO informs the parties and the public of the date on which the document is deemed to have been delivered by publishing a notice in the European Patent Bulletin. The document is deemed to have been delivered one month after publication of the notice.