THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL,

Having regard to Rule 12a(1), fourth sentence, of the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention,

Having regard to the decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 4/17 of 28 June 2017 laying down the procedure for designating the deputy of the President of the Boards of Appeal if absent or indisposed,

In agreement with the President of the Office in respect of the exercise of the functions and powers which are the subject of the Act of Delegation as published in the Official Journal of the EPO (OJ EPO 2018, A63),

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

(1) The President of the Boards of Appeal designates Mr Wolfgang Sekretaruk, member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal and Chair of the Legal Board of Appeal, to replace him if he is absent or indisposed.

(2) The business distribution schemes of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the Technical Boards of Appeal, the Legal Board of Appeal and the Disciplinary Board of Appeal shall remain unaffected.

Article 2

If the deputy designated in Article 1, paragraph 1, is also absent or indisposed, the member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal with the longest service on the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall replace the President of the Boards of Appeal or, where members of the Enlarged Board of Appeal have the same length of service on the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the eldest member. If that deputy is also absent or indisposed, the member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal with the next longest service as member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall deputise.

Article 3

The President of the Boards of Appeal or, if applicable, the person replacing him shall inform the deputy concerned about any period of absence in writing, unless he is indisposed to do so.

Article 4

The person replacing the President of the Boards of Appeal shall ensure continuity in the execution of operational tasks. Strategic decisions shall remain with the President of the Boards of Appeal.

Article 5

This decision shall enter into force on 1 October 2018.

Done at Haar, 24 September 2018

The President of the Boards of Appeal

Carl Josefsson