After an international application has been filed other documents may be filed in any proceedings before the EPO online or direct, by post or by fax at the EPO filing offices. Since 1 November 2016, the ePCT service may also be used for filing subsequently filed documents online with the EPO. However, priority documents issued in paper form which have to be certified by the issuing authority should also be submitted to the EPO in that form to ensure the validity of the certification. For that reason, they may not be filed by fax or via the EPO web-form filing service. On the other hand, priority documents issued in electronic form are accepted only if they are digitally signed by the issuing authority and if that signature is also accepted by the EPO. The filing of authorisations by fax and via the EPO web-form filing service is excluded.
There is no obligation to file a confirmation copy of subsequent documents, but the receiving Office may require one to be submitted (see point 69) and will do so in particular if the applicant has submitted substitute sheets under Rule 26 PCT and/or any sheets to be incorporated by reference under Rule 20.6 PCT. In these two cases the applicant is advised to submit a confirmation copy on his own initiative directly after sending the sheets concerned by fax.
Source: http://www.epo.org/applying/international/guide-for-applicants/html/e/ga_b_12.html
Date retrieved: 30 December 2018
15 references found.
Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.EPO Guide for Applicants, part II Int.
EPO Guide for Applicants, part II Int. - B The EPO as a PCT receiving Office
EPO Guide for Applicants, part II Int. - D The EPO as an IPEA
PCT Implementing Rules
XR.26 PCT Checking by, and Correcting before, the Receiving Office of Certain Elements of the International Application
Offical Journal of the EPO
XOJ EPO 2017, A59 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 19 June 2017 concerning the EPO Online Filing software to be used for the electronic filing of documents
XOJ EPO 2016, A78 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 23 September 2016 concerning the online filing of subsequently filed documents under the PCT, including the demand under PCT Chapter II
XOJ EPO 2015, A91 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 10 November 2015 concerning the electronic filing of documents
XOJ EPO 2015, A27 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 11 March 2015 concerning the filing of documents using the EPO case management system
XOJ EPO 2015, A26 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 5 February 2015 concerning the EPO Online Filing software to be used for the electronic filing of documents
XOJ EPO 2014, A98 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 10 September 2014 concerning the filing of documents using the EPO web-form filing service