1. The revised Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office (RPBA 2020, published in OJ EPO 2019, A63) enter into force on 1 January 2020.

As from this date, acceleration of proceedings before the boards of appeal is regulated in Article 10(3) to (6) RPBA 2020 and the fixing of the date of oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal in Article 15(1) and (2) RPBA 2020.

These provisions will apply to any appeal pending on, or filed after, the date of the entry into force (see Article 25(1) RPBA 2020).

Further information on the respective provisions can be found in the explanatory remarks to the RPBA 2020 (see Section VI. of document CA/3/19).

2. The following notices are therefore cancelled with effect from 1 January 2020:

(a) Notice from the Vice-President Directorate-General 3 dated 17 March 2008 concerning accelerated processing before the boards of appeal (originally published in OJ EPO 2008, 220);

(b) Notice of the Vice-President of Directorate-General 3 of the European Patent Office dated 16 July 2007 concerning oral proceedings before the boards of appeal of the EPO (originally published in OJ EPO 2007, Special edition No. 3, 115).

Carl JOSEFSSON

President of the Boards of Appeal