Ancillary Regulations Part II: Rule 24(1) OJ 2002, 543

Rule 24(1) OJ 2002, 543: Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 29 October 2002 on the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents

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Table of Contents

Foreword

Ancillary Regulations

Part II

Rule 24(1)

Rule 17(3) OJ 1991, 266: Notice of the European Patent Office dated 5 April 1991 concerning the possibility of renouncing the Notification to the inventor according to Rule 17(3) EPC

Rule 24(2) OJ 2001, 465: Notice dated 1 October 2001 concerning new patent application numbering system for 2002

Rule 24(1) OJ 2002, 543: Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 29 October 2002 on the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents

Rule 24(1) OJ 2000, 458: Notice dated 12 September 2000 concerning correspondence with the Office via e-mail

Rule 24(1) OJ 2002, 545: Notice dated 29 October 2002 concerning the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents

Rule 24(1) - OJ 2002, 543

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 29 October 2002 on the electronic filing of patent applications and other documents

- OJ 2002, 543 -

The President of the European Patent Office (EPO),

having regard to Rule 24(1) and Rule 36(5) EPC and Rule 89bis.1 and 2 PCT,

has decided as follows:

Article 1
Filing of patent applications

(1) European patent applications and international (PCT) applications may be filed with the EPO in electronic form.

(2) European patent applications may also be filed in electronic form with the competent national authorities of those contracting states which so permit.

(3) Electronic filing may be effected online or on electronic data carriers in accordance with the notice¹ issued in connection with the present decision.

Article 2
Filing of other documents

The EPO may decide that, after a European or international application has been filed, documents within the meaning of Rule 36 EPC or Rule 89bis.1 and 2 PCT may be filed in electronic form in accordance with the notice1 issued in connection with the present decision

Article 3
Preparation of documents

The documents referred to in Articles 1 and 2 shall be prepared using the software provided free of charge by the EPO, unless the use of other software is permitted.

Article 4
Illegible or incomplete documents; infected files

(1) Where a filed document is illegible or incomplete, that part of it which is illegible or incomplete shall be regarded as not having been received.

(2) If a filed document is infected with a computer virus or contains other malicious software, it shall be deemed to be illegible. The Office shall not be obliged to either open it or process it.

(3) Where a filed document is found to be deficient within the meaning of paragraphs 1 or 2, the sender, provided that he can be identified, shall be notified promptly.

Article 5
Paper confirmation

No confirmation on paper is required for documents filed in accordance with Articles 1 and 2.

Article 6
Cancellation of previous decisions

The decision dated 7 December 2000 on the electronic filing of European patent applications and subsequent documents (supplement to Official Journal 4/2001) shall cease to have effect when the present decision enters into force.

Article 7
Entry into force

This decision shall enter into force on 1 November 2002.
Done at Munich, 29 October 2002
Ingo KOBER
President

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¹	OJ EPO 2002, 545.