OJ EPO 2011, 354 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 5 April 2011 concerning updated Form 1200 (entry into the European phase) and the possibility to waive the right to the communication under Rules 161(1) or (2) and 162 EPC

The form for entry into the European phase (EPA/EPO/OEB 1200) has been updated in view of amended Rules 161 and 162 EPC that entered into force on 1 May 2011. 1 The revised form and notes to Form 1200 (version 05.11) will be available on the EPO's website as of that date. 2

The change to the 01.11 version is the introduction of section 6.4, in which the applicant can explicitly waive his or her right to the communication pursuant to Rules 161(1) or (2) and 162 EPC. 3

OJ EPO 2011, 372 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 28 April 2011 on the filing of sequence listings

The President of the European Patent Office (EPO), having regard to Article 10(2) EPC, Rules 2, 30(1), 68(2), 73(2) and 163(3) EPC and Rule 13ter PCT, has decided as follows:

Article 1 Filing of sequence listings in respect of European patent applications

(1) If nucleotide or amino acid sequences are disclosed in a European patent application, the description must contain a sequence listing in electronic form complying with WIPO Standard ST.25.

OJ EPO 2011, 376 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 28 April 2011 concerning the filing of sequence listings

This notice complements the decision of the President on the filing of sequence listings 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "decision of the President") and describes the procedure under the EPC and PCT for the filing of sequence listings.

I. European patent grant procedure

1. Filing of sequence listings

OJ EPO 2011, 418 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 10 May 2011 concerning the filing of third party observations under Article 115 EPC by means of an online form 1

The President of the European Patent Office, having regard to Rule 2 EPC, has decided as follows:

Article 1 Admissibility of third party observations by means of an online form

As a pilot project, and in addition to existing methods of filing documents, third party observations may be filed using the online form made available specifically for this purpose on the website of the European Patent Office.

Article 2 Signature

A signature is not required to file third party observations.

Article 3 Acknowledgement of receipt

OJ EPO 2011, 420 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 10 May 2011 concerning the filing of third party observations under Article 115 EPC by means of an online form

Article 115 EPC enables third parties to present observations concerning the patentability of the invention to which a European patent application or patent relates. There are no fees for presenting such observations.

Within the framework of the "Raising the Bar" project (2nd basket), the EPO has decided to facilitate and promote the filing of well-structured and concise third party observations in order to further improve the quality of granted European patents. Observations containing very relevant objections can also consider-

OJ EPO 2011, 472 - Finland accedes to the London Agreement

On 25 July 2011, Finland deposited its instrument of accession to the Agreement dated 17 October 2000 on the application of Article 65 EPC ("London Agreement", see OJ EPO 2001, 549), which under its Article 6(2) will accordingly enter into force for Finland on 1 November 2011. The London Agreement will then be in force in seventeen EPC contracting states.

For European patents granted with effect for Finland on or after 1 November 2011, no Finnish translation of the European patent specification need be supplied if the patent is granted in English or if

OJ EPO 2011, 532 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 31 August 2011 concerning the issuance of a second written opinion in the procedure under Chapter II PCT

1. Introduction 1.1 The European Patent Office (EPO) in its function as International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) has revised its practice under Rule 66.4 PCT. Pursuant to that provision any IPEA has discretion to issue one or more additional written opinions before the international preliminary examination report (IPER) is established.

1.2 The new practice, which is set out in detail hereafter (points 2 to 6), provides for a further opportunity for dialogue with the EPO as IPEA, thereby giving appli- cants more scope to enter the national

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