In oral proceedings before the European Patent Office a party may use one of the Office's other official languages in lieu of the language of the proceedings provided that he gives notice in good time in accordance with Rule 4(1), first sentence, EPC or makes provision for interpreting into the language of the proceedings.
In proceedings before the board of appeal this obligation to give notice also applies if the party has lawfully used an alternative official language in oral proceedings before the department of first instance (see decision T 34/90, OJ EPO 1992, 454).
This communication applies as from the entry into force of the revised text of the European Patent Convention.
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/2014/etc/se1/p76.html
Date retrieved: 19 May 2021