Unity of invention
If the applicant fulfils the requirements for reduction of the preliminary examination fee, any additional fee is validly paid upon payment of the reduced sum (see point 4.1.060).
If the applicant pays one or more additional preliminary examination fee(s) within the time limit set, those parts of the application for which additional fees have been paid will also be examined. Consequently the IPER will be established for all inventions for which a fee for preliminary examination has been paid.
The applicant may pay any additional fee under protest in accordance with Rule 68.3(c) PCT. The protest procedure is the same as before the EPO as ISA (see points 3.3.020 ff).
OJ 2010, 322
Claims relating to inventions in respect of which no international search report has been established will not be the subject of international preliminary examination by the EPO as IPEA (see point 4.2.027).
Source: http://www.epo.org/applying/international/guide-for-applicants/html/e/ga_c4_2_12.html
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021
12 references found.
Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.EPC Implementing Rules
XR.158 EPC The European Patent Office as an International Searching Authority or International Preliminary Examining Authority