GL A XI 4 Consultation of the European Patent Register

The European Patent Register can be accessed free of charge via the EPO website (epo.org) (see A‑XI, 2.2). Entries in the European Patent Register are made starting from the publication of the European patent application up to expiry of the period of opposition or the termination of opposition proceedings.

GL A XI 3 Communication of information contained in the files

Subject to the restrictions provided for in Art. 128(1) to (4) and Rule 144 (see A‑XI, 2.3), the EPO may, upon request, communicate information concerning any file of a published European patent application or a European patent.

GL A XI 2.6 Publication of bibliographic data before publication of the application

In accordance with Art. 128(5), the EPO publishes in the European Patent Bulletin the bibliographic data relating to European patent applications which had been announced for publication but for which the application documents were not published, either because the application was withdrawn or because the announcement was erroneous.

GL A XI 2.5 File inspection before publication of the application

Until the European patent application is published, the files may be inspected only by applicants or with their consent. The online service My Files allows applicants to inspect online the public part of the files relating to their still unpublished applications (see Notice from the EPO dated 13 December 2011, OJ EPO 2012, 22).

GL A XI 2.4 Confidentiality of the request

Correspondence from the proceedings relating to the inspection of files conducted between the EPO and the person requesting the inspection is included in the non-public part of the file. The EPO does not provide the applicant with any information about the proceedings relating to the inspection of files (see A‑XI, 2.3(iv), but also A‑XI, 2.5, third paragraph).

GL A XI 2.3 Restrictions to file inspection

Inspection of files is subject to the restrictions laid down in Rule 144.[Art. 128(4); Rule 146; Rule 145; Rule 144; ]

The parts of the file excluded from inspection are:

(i)the documents relating to the exclusi

GL A XI 2.2 Conducting file inspections

The President of the EPO determines all file inspection arrangements, including the circumstances in which an administrative fee is payable (see the Decision of the President of the EPO 20 February 2019, OJ EPO 2019, A16).[Rule 145(2); Art. 3(1) RFees; ]

As a rule, published patent applications and granted patents can be inspected free of charge online on the EPO website via the European Patent Register.

GL A XI 2.1 Documents open to file inspection

All parts of the file compiled when conducting the examination, opposition and appeal procedure with the parties are open for inspection, subject to the restrictions mentioned below (see A‑XI, 2.3). It also includes information on the dates of the start of search and examination, any invitations under Rule 63(1) or Rule 62a(1) and the search opinion if applicable.[Art.

GL A XI 2 Inspection of files

2.1 Documents open to file inspection

2.2 Conducting file inspections

2.3 Restrictions to file inspection

2.4 Confidentiality of the request

2.5 File inspection before publication of the application

GL A XI 1 General

After a European patent application has been published, any person may inspect and obtain information from the files relating to the application and the resultant European patent. Similarly, anybody may request the issuance of a sample of biological material in accordance with Rule 33 (see A‑IV, 4.4).[Art. 128;