Guide for Applicants - Part 2:How to get a European patent: A. General overview, The role of the EPO in the international phase

Guide for Applicants - Part 2
How to get a European patent

D / E

How to get a European patent

A. General overview

B. The EPO as a PCT receiving Office

C. The EPO as an International Searching Authority

D. The EPO as an International Preliminary Examining Authority

E. Euro-PCT procedure before the EPO as a designated or elected Office

Annexes

Guide for Applicants - Part 2

A. General overview

The role of the EPO in the international phase

The role of the EPO in the international phase

4	For international applications under the PCT, the EPO may act as:

Art. 1 - 49 PCT
Art. 150 - 158 EPC
GL/EPO A-VII;

E-IX, 1 ff

receiving Office ("RO") (see point 10 ff),

International Searching Authority ("ISA") (see point 64 ff) and

International Preliminary Examining Authority ("IPEA") (see point 101 ff).

During the international phase of the processing of an application no designated or elected Office is allowed to process or to examine that application. However, this prohibition may be lifted at the explicit request of the applicant (see point 166).

Art. 23 PCT

Art. 40 PCT

WIPO PCT Guide 16