5.

Survey of the processing of applications and patents at the EPO

(i)

the application, designating one or more Contracting States, is filed with the EPO or a competent national authority;

(ii)

the Receiving Section examines the application to determine if a date of filing can be accorded to the application;

(iii)

the Receiving Section completes the examination on filing by checking that the filing and search fees and, where relevant, a translation of the application, have been filed within the appropriate time limits;

(iv)

the formal examination of the application is undertaken by the Receiving Section;

(v)

in parallel with the formal examination the Search Division draws up a search report a copy of which is forwarded to the applicant;

(vi)

the application and the search report are published by the EPO either together or separately;

(vii)

on receipt of a request from the applicant, or, if the request has been filed before the search report has been transmitted to the applicant, on confirmation by the applicant that he desires to proceed further with the European patent application, the application is subjected to a substantive examination and an examination of formalities necessary for grant by the Examining Division;

(viii)

provided the requirements of the EPC are met, a European patent is granted for the States designated;

(ix)

the specification of the European patent is published by the EPO;

(x)

any person may give notice of opposition to the European patent granted; after examining the opposition, the Opposition Division decides whether to reject the opposition, maintain the patent in amended form, or to revoke the patent;

(xi)

if the European patent is amended, the EPO publishes a new specification of the European patent amended accordingly.