The time limits in force at the date of stay are interrupted by the stay of proceedings. The time which has not yet elapsed begins to run as from the date on which proceedings are resumed; however, the time still to run after the resumption of the proceedings must not be less than two months.[Rule 14(4); Rule 78(1); ]
A communication under Rule 82(2) maintaining the patent in amended form is despatched by the EPO on 24.01.2018. Under Rule 126(2) and Rule 131(2), this communication is deemed delivered on 03.02.2018. The three-month period to pay the publication fee and file the translation of any amended claim starts on the day following delivery of the communication, i.e. on 04.02.2018, and it ends on 03.05.2018.
If proceedings are stayed under Rule 14(1) by the Legal Division on 23.02.2018, the three-month period has elapsed from 04.02.2018 to 22.02.2018 before the event of the staying of the proceedings, i.e. 19 days have already passed and the period remaining is 9 days and 2 months. Since the remaining period is longer than two months, under Rule 14(4) it will run after the resumption of the proceedings.
Hence, if the proceedings are resumed by the Legal Division on 07.06.2018, the period for paying the publication fee and filing the translation of the claims runs until 16.08.2018 for the following reasons:
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/d_vii_4_3.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021