In previous years, the revised editions of the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO ("EPC Guidelines") and the Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority ("PCT-EPO Guidelines") were published annually on 1 November, with an advance "preview" version published on the EPO website at the beginning of October.

As part of the Strategic Plan 2023 ("SP2023") and following requests from users, the EPO has restructured the revision cycle for the Guidelines to ensure greater user involvement.^[ 1 ]

To facilitate user consultation, forthcoming editions of the EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines will be published every year at the beginning of March, without advance publication. The next edition of the EPO Guidelines will be published and enter into force at the beginning of March 2021. As a courtesy service, an unedited version will be made available – in English only – on the website one month earlier for advance information. However, readers of the EPO Guidelines should bear in mind that the final edition entering into force will be the one published in March 2021.

For more information see:

epo.org/news-events/news/2019/20191205.html

epo.org/news-events/news/2020/20200302.html

epo.org/news-events/news/2020/20200616.html