I. DECISIONS BASED ON ARTICLES OF THE EPC, AND NOTICES

Integration of INPADOC into the EPO, Creation of an EPO sub-office in Vienna

1.

Setting up of a Filing Office in Berlin

2.

Setting-up of a further filing office in Munich ('Pschorrhöfe')

3.

Official opening hours (see Rule 24(1) EPC)

1.

Responsibilities of the Legal Division

2.

Correspondence with the Legal Division

1.

Rules of procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, Consolidated version

2.

Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal, Decision of Administrative Council

3.

Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal, Consolidated version

4.

Transfer of functions to the Registrars of the Boards of Appeal

5.

Guidance for parties to appeal proceedings and their representatives

1.

Authenticity of decisions in the three languages of the EPO

2.

Notice concerning amendments to Rules 28 EPC and Rule 28a EPC

Proportion of renewal fees remitted to the EPO

International Exhibitions

Agreement on the application of Article 65 EPC

1.

Termination of the Administrative Agreement between the DPMA and the EPO

2.

Vienna sub-office not a filing office

3.

Accelerated prosecution of European patent applications - 'PACE'

4.

New patent application numbering system (see R. 24(2) EPC)

1.

Extension of European patents

1.1

Extension of European patents to Slovenia

1.2

Extension of European patents to Latvia and Lithuania

1.3

Extension of European patents to Albania

1.4

Extension of European patents to Macedonia

1.5

Extension of European patents to Croatia

1.6

Extension of European patents to Serbia and Montenegro

1.7

Extension of European patents to Bosnia and Herzegovina

2.

More time to pay designation fees

3.

New patent law in Hong Kong

4.

Registration of European patents (UK) in overseas states or territories

Priority conferring effect of the US 'provisional application for patent'

1.

Changes in EPO publications

2.

Notice concerning the publication of 'extension states' on A and B document

3.

Paragraph numbering in European patent documents

4.

Advance ordering of additional patent specifications

5.

New publication system for corrections to A and B documents

Acceleration of the proceedings

New publication system for corrections to A and B documents

1.

Note on opposition procedure in the EPO

2.

Accelerated processing of oppositions

Accelerated processing before the boards of appeal

1.

Sound recording devices in oral proceedings

2.

Oral proceedings before the EPO

3.

Interpretation in oral proceedings

4.

Communication concerning the obligation to give notice before boards of appeal

5.

Interviews and oral proceedings to be held as a video conference

1.

Internet access to the Online European Patent Register

2.

New tool for use with the European Patent Register online

3.

Use of the Online European Patent Register

4.

Free subscription to the online services

5.

Register of European Patents on-line; further user possibilities

6.

Register Plus, the new way of accessing the Online European Patent Register and Online Public File Inspection

1.

Changes in the European Patent Bulletin

2.

Two-letter country codes

Use of titles by Professional Representatives before the EPO

1.

General regulations for professional representatives

1.1

Establishment of an Institute of Professional Representatives consolid. version

1.2

Code of Professional Conduct - epi

2.

Regulations on discipline

2.1

Decision amending the Arrangements for deposit accounts

2.2

Regulation on discipline for professional representatives

2.3

Additional rules of procedure of the Disciplinary Board of the EPO

2.4

Additional rules of procedure of the Disciplinary Board of the EPO

2.5

Additional rules of procedure of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal of the EPO

2.6

Notice concerning decisions taken by the Disciplinary Board of Appeal

3.

European qualifying examination

3.1

Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives

3.2.1

Implementing provisions to the Regulation on the European qualifying examination

3.2.2

Qualifications required for enrolment for the European qualifying examination

3.2.3

Decision of the Examination Board regarding the distribution of marks

3.3

Instructions to candidates concerning the conduct of the examination

3.4

Instructions to candidates for preparing their answers

3.5

Instructions to invigilators

Designation of Contracting States for the 'subsequent choice of a Community Patent'

Treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Patent Protection

1.

Amendment of PCT Regulations

2.

Amendment of PCT Regulations

3.

The International Bureau of WIPO

4.

Access to PCT files

5.

Access to PCT files

6.

Amended Agreement between EPO and WIPO

7.

Changes in respect of PCT applications

8.

EPO discontinues its rationalised international preliminary examination procedure

9.

Refund of search fees

10.

Revised amounts of the refund of search fees

11.

Revised amounts of the refund of search fees (France)

12.

Limitation of the EPO's competence as a PCT authority

13.

Limitation of the EPO's competence as a PCT authority

14.

Partial lifting of the limitation on the EPO's competence as a PCT authority

15.

Limitation of the EPO's competence as a PCT authority

16.

Carrying out of international-type searches

17.

Business methods

Language of correspondence under the PCT

1.

Time for payment of the fees for international applications

2.1

Late payment fee under Rule 16bis.2 PCT

2.2

Late payment fee under Rule 58bis.2 PCT

3.

Filing of authorisations with the EPO as receiving Office

1.

Guide for applicants - part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO - 'euro-PCT'

2.

EPO Form 1200 for entry into the regional phase before EPO

1.

Protest procedure under the PCT

2.

Agreements

2.1

Agreement with Netherland on international-type searches

2.2

Implementation of PCT Rule 48.3(b) - Agreements with the Belgian Patent Office

3.

Specification of the EPO as International Searching Authority by

3.1

EPO as International Searching Authority by the US Patent and Trademark Office

3.2

EPO as International Searching Authority by the Japanese Patent Office

3.3

EPO as International Searching Authority by the Polish Patent Office

3.4

Fee reduction in favour of nationals of certain states

1.

Review panels for the protest procedure under the PCT

2.

Date on which the preliminary examination fee is payable to the EPO

3.

PCT request form and the demand form for international preliminary examination

4.

Guide for applicants - part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO - 'euro-PCT'

4.1

Rationalisation of international preliminary examination procedure at the EPO

4.2

Spain to be bound by Chapter II of the PCT

4.3

Spanish Patent and Trademark Office as an International Preliminary Examining Authority

5.1

Withdrawal by the USA of the reservation concerning Chapter II PCT

5.2

EPO as IPEA by the US Patent and Trademark Office

5.3

EPO as International Preliminary Examining Authority by the Japanese Patent Office

5.4

EPO as International Preliminary Examining Authority by the Japanese Patent Office

5.5

EPO as International Preliminary Examining Authority by the Polish Patent Office

1.

Guide for applicants - part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO - 'euro-PCT'

2.

EPO form 1200 for entry of regional phase before EPO as designated or elected Office'

1.

Reducing the fee for the supplementary European search where the international search report was drawn up by the Austrian Patent Office, by the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office or by the Swedish Patent and Registration Office

2.

Reducing the fee for the supplementary European search where the international search report was drawn up by the Austrian Patent Office, by the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office or by the Swedish Patent and Registration Office

3.

Search fee for the supplementary European search is to be reduced

4.

Search and examination fees

5.

Introduction of the extended European search report

6.

Fee reduction by designated/elected Offices where the EPO has acted as ISA or IPEA

EPO as Designated Office waives the requirement to furnish a copy of the international application, even if not transmitted by the International Bureau - Art. 22(1), Rule 49.1(a bis) PCT

Expiry of the transitional period provided for in Article 163, paragraph 1

1.

Expiry of the reservations by Austria

2.

Expiry of the reservations by Spain and Greece