Further to the decision dated 10 November 2015 concerning the electronic filing of documents^[ 1 ], and having regard to Rule 2 EPC and Rule 89bis.1 and 2 PCT, the President of the European Patent Office has decided as follows:

Article 1

Software to be used for electronic filing

(1) Electronic filings in accordance with Article 5 of the above-mentioned decision dated 10 November 2015 must be made using version 5.09 (build 5.0.9.148) or later releases of the EPO Online Filing software.

(2) Once this decision has entered into force, electronic filings using releases earlier than version 5.09 (build 5.0.9.148) will no longer be accepted by the Office's receiving server.

Article 2

International (PCT) applications

Article 1(2) does not apply to international (PCT) applications and other documents relating to international applications filed in electronic form with the European Patent Office under the PCT. Such applications and documents, including the demand under PCT Chapter II, which are prepared and filed using releases of the EPO Online Filing software earlier than version 5.09 (build 5.0.9.148) will be accepted by the Office's receiving server. International applications can also be prepared and filed using PCT-SAFE or ePCT.

Article 3

Previous decisions superseded

When this decision enters into force, the 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 (OJ EPO 2015, A26) will cease to have effect.

Article 4

Entry into force

This decision will enter into force on 1 September 2017.

Done at Munich, 19 June 2017

Benoît BATTISTELLI

President