The Arrangements for deposit accounts and their annexes have been revised to clarify the debiting procedures or take account of developments in practice and technology since the previous version entered into force on 1 April 2009. Some editorial changes have also been made.

Given the varied nature of the changes, users are recommended to read the individual revised provisions carefully.

The main changes can be summarised as follows.

A revised version of the Arrangements for deposit accounts (ADA) [ 1 ] and their annexes enters into force on 1 April 2014, and will be published together with an EPO notice in a supplementary publication to the EPO's March 2014 Official Journal. The main changes are as follows:

Important information for patent applicants

1. Fee payments to EPO bank accounts must be made in EUR and transferred without charge to the payee.

2. On the bank transfer, the payer must give the following payment-reference information:

- patent application number

- fee code(s)

Examples: <EPXXXXXXXX.X, codes XXX, XXX>, < PCT USXXXXXXXXXX codes XXX, XXX, XXX>.,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE,

having regard to the Agreement under the PCT between the European Patent Organisation and the International Bureau of WIPO which entered into force on 13 December 2007, and in particular Article 5(2)(i) and Annex C, Part II(3) thereof,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

From March 2014, Examining and Opposition Divisions may rely on paralegal support before/during/after oral proceedings in examination and opposition procedures. This includes the preparation of facts and submissions or other documents for the division, the drafting of the minutes of the oral proceedings for the division as well as any administrative support as appropriate.