Guidelines for Examination
PART E
CHAPTER IV TAKING AND CONSERVATION OF EVIDENCE
2. Conservation of evidence
2.3 Competence
 

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PART E
CHAPTER IV TAKING AND CONSERVATION OF EVIDENCECHAPTER IV TAKING AND CONSERVATION OF EVIDENCE
2. Conservation of evidence2. Conservation of evidence
  2.2 Request for the conservation of evidence2.2 Request for the conservation of evidence     2.4 Decision on the request and the taking of evidence2.4 Decision on the request and the taking of evidence  
 

2.3

Competence

 

The decision on the request and any resulting taking of evidence are incumbent upon the department of the EPO required to take the decision liable to be affected by the facts to be established.

 

Rule 75(4)



Responsibility for the decision and the taking of evidence will therefore normally rest with:

 

(i)

the Examining Division, from the date of filing until the date of the decision on the granting of the patent;

 

(ii)

the Opposition Division, from the latter date until expiry of the time allowed for filing notice of opposition and during opposition proceedings; and

 

(iii)

the Board of Appeal, from the date of a final decision by the Opposition Division until it becomes legally binding or while appeal proceedings are pending.