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GUIDELINES FOR EXAMINATION
IN THE
EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
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Published by the European Patent Office
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Published by the European Patent Office
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Directorate Patent Law 5.2.1
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European Patent Office, Munich
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LIST OF CONTENTS
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1.
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Preliminary remarks
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2.
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Explanatory notes
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2.2
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Abbreviations
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3.
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General remarks
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4.
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Work at the EPO
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5.
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Survey of the processing of applications and patents at the EPO
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6.
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Contracting States to the EPC
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7.
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Extension to states not party to the EPC
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Part A - Guidelines for Formalities Examination
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Chapter II
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Filing of applications and examination on filing
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- Annex
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List of Contracting States to the Paris Convention (see III, 6.2)
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Chapter V
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Communicating the formalities report; amendment of application; correction of errors
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Chapter VI
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Publication of application; request for examination and transmission of the dossier to Examining Division
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Chapter VII
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Applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) before the EPO acting as a designated or elected Office
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Chapter XII
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Inspection of files; communication of information contained in files;
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consultation of the Register of European Patents; issuance of certified copies
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Part B - Guidelines for Search
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Chapter V
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Preclassification (routing) and official classification of European patent applications
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- Annex
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Checklist for considering the abstract (see XI, 5)
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Part C - Guidelines for Substantive Examination
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Chapter II
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Content of a European patent application (other than claims)
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- Annex
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Units recognised in international practice and complying with Rule 35(12)
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(see II, 4.15)
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- Annex
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Examples relating to the requirement of inventive step - indicators (see IV, 9.13)
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Part D - Guidelines for Opposition Procedure
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Chapter IV
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Procedure up to substantive examination
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Chapter V
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Substantive examination of opposition
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Chapter VI
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Procedure for the examination of the opposition
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Chapter VII
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Details and special features of the proceedings
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Part E - Guidelines on General Procedural Matters
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Chapter V
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Derogations from the language of the proceedings in oral proceedings
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Chapter VI
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Examination by the EPO of its own motion; facts, evidence or grounds not submitted in due time; observations by third parties
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Chapter VII
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Interruption and suspension of the proceedings
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Chapter VIII
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Time limits, loss of rights, further and accelerated processing and re-establishment of rights
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Chapter IX
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Applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
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Chapter XII
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Request from a national court for a technical opinion concerning a European patent
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Chapter XIII
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Registering transfers, licences, other rights, etc.
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GENERAL PART