Pursuant to Rule 142(1), proceedings before the EPO are interrupted in one of the following events:[Rule 142(1); ]

(i)in the event of the death or legal incapacity of the applicant for or proprietor of a European patent or of the person authorised by national law to act on their behalf. To the extent that the above events do not affect the authorisation of a representative appointed under Art. 134, proceedings will be interrupted only on application by such representative;[Rule 142(1)(a); ]

(ii)in the event of the applicant for or proprietor of a European patent, as a result of some action taken against their property, being prevented by legal reasons from continuing the proceedings before the EPO; or[Rule 142(1)(b); ]

(iii)in the event of the death or legal incapacity of the representative of an applicant for or proprietor of a European patent or of their being prevented for legal reasons resulting from action taken against their property from continuing the proceedings before the EPO.[Rule 142(1)(c); ]

In principle, the EPO interrupts proceedings pursuant to Rule 142 ex officio. In the case of Rule 142(1)(a) last sentence, however, proceedings are interrupted on request only.