OJ EPO 2008, 123 - European Patent Organisation

Entry into force of the London Agreement

The Agreement on the application of Article 65 EPC (the London Agreement, see OJ EPO 2001, 549) will enter into force on 1 May 2008.

To date, the following 13 Contracting States have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession:

Croatia Denmark France Germany Iceland Latvia Liechtenstein Luxembourg Monaco Netherlands Slovenia Switzerland United Kingdom

OJ EPO 2008, 126 - Information from the European Patent Office

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the refund of search fees under Article 9(2) of the Rules relating to Fees1

The President of the European Patent Office,

having regard to Article 9(2) of the Rules relating to Fees,

having regard to the adjustment of fees and prices as of 1 April 2008,

has decided as follows:

Article 1

Refundable amounts

Where the European search report is based on an earlier search report prepared by the Office on

OJ EPO 2008, 130 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 11 February 2008 concerning search and examination fees

On 1 April 2008 two Administrative Council decisions of 14 December 2007 enter into force:

CA/D 16/07 (OJ EPO 2008, 5), intro- ducing the fee adjustment, hereinafter referred to as "RFees 2008", and

CA/D 46/07 (OJ EPO 2008, 12), adapting CA/D 41/07 (OJ EPO 2007, 642)1

The present Notice updates the amounts of search and examination fees to reflect RFees 2008 and replaces the corres- ponding Notice of 1 March 2006 (OJ EPO 2006, 192).

OJ EPO 2008, 195 - International treaties

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the refund of search fees by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority

The President of the European Patent Office,

having regard to the new Agreement between the European Patent Organisa- tion and the International Bureau of WIPO under the PCT that entered into force on 13 December 20071, and in particular Article 5(2)(i) and Annex C, Part II(3) thereof,

having regard to the adjustment of fees and prices with effect from 1 April 20082,

has decided as follows:

OJ EPO 2008, 200 - Notice from the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the criteria for refund of search fees by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority

1. Where the international search may be wholly or partly based on an earlier search report already prepared by the EPO, a refund of search fees is provided for in Article 5(2)(i) in conjunction with Annex C, Part II(3) of the Agreement between the EPO and the International Bureau of WIPO under the PCT1.

2. The criteria determining the applicable refund rate (full or partial) are as follows:

2.1. The full refund will apply where the international search report may be based wholly on the earlier search.

OJ EPO 2008, 214 - Important Notice

Abolition of payment by cheque

Payment by cheque delivered or sent direct to the EPO will no longer be accepted as from 1 April 2008 (see OJ EPO 2007, 626).

References: articl5;

OJ EPO 2008, 220 - Notice from the Vice- President Directorate- General 3 dated 17 March 2008 concerning acceler- ated processing before the boards of appeal1

Parties with a legitimate interest may ask the boards of appeal to deal with their appeals rapidly. The boards can speed up an appeal as far as the procedural regulations allow.

Requests for accelerated processing must be submitted to the competent board either at the beginning of or during proceedings. They should contain reasons for the urgency together with relevant documents; no particular form is required.

This option is also available to the courts and competent authorities of the contracting states.

OJ EPO 2008, 221 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 17 March 2008 concerning acceler- ated processing of opposi- tions where infringement proceedings have been instituted1

1. In cases where an infringement action in respect of a European patent is pending before a national court of a contracting state, a party to the opposi- tion proceedings may request acceler- ated processing. The request may be filed at any time. It must be filed in written reasoned form. The Office will then make every effort to issue the next procedural action (e.g. communication, summons to oral proceedings) within three months of receipt of the request, or, where the request is filed within the opposition period, within three months after receipt of the patent proprietor's

OJ EPO 2008, 271 - Decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal

Decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal dated 28 June 2007 G 1/05

(Language of the proceedings)

Composition of the board:

Chairman: Members:

Applicant: ASTROPOWER Inc.

Headword: Divisional/ASTROPOWER

Article: 54(3), 75(2), 76(1)(2)(3), 77(5), 82, 96(2), 97(1), 100(c), 102(3), 112(1)(a), 113(1), 123(1)(2), 138(1)(c) and 138(2) EPC 1973 Rule: 25(1)(2), 51(2), 86(3)(4) EPC 1973 RPEBA Art. 8 UK Patents Act 1977: Sections 76(1), 130(7)

OJ EPO 2008, 307 - Decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal dated 28 June 2007 G 1/06*