Article 127 - OJ 2003, 69

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 27 February 2003 concerning use of the Online European Patent Register

- OJ 2003, 69 -

As part of its epoline® project, the European Patent Office offers users access to the Online European Patent Register via the Internet, http://www.epoline.org/register.htm (OJ EPO 5/2001, 249-250).

Thanks to the introduction of a new software tool known as WebRegPro (OJ EPO 1/2003, 23), the Online European Patent Register now provides all the functionalities available via the EPIDOS Register X.25 service (OJ EPO 8/1997, 381-384 and OJ EPO 12/1997, 576). This service will therefore cease to be available to the public with effect from 31 March 2003.

In future, customers should access the free Online European Patent Register via the Internet and use the WebRegPro application to download and compare Register data.

Access to deposit accounts (DEPAC-system) via the X.25 service is unaffected and this service will be maintained until further notice

(http://www.european-patent-office.org/epidos/depac_epr.htm).

WebRegPro runs under Windows® operating systems only and may be ordered free of charge from the epoline® Website (http://www.epoline.org/epoline/webregpro/webregpro_en.htm).

Further information can be obtained from:

epoline®-Customer Service

European Patent Office

Patentlaan-2 NL - 2288 EE Rijswijk

Tel.: (+31-70) 340 4500

Fax: (+31-70) 340 4600

e-mail: epoline@epo.org

Internet: www.epoline.org

epoline®-Customer Service can be contacted from Monday to Friday 08.00 to 18.00 hrs.