Guide for Applicants - Part 2:How to get a European patent: B. The EPO as a PCT receiving Office, Language of the international application

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

B. The EPO as a PCT receiving Office

C. The EPO as an International Searching Authority (ISA) - PCT Chapter I

Language of the international application

Language of the international application

The international application, ie the request, description, claim(s), drawing(s) and abstract, must be filed with the EPO as receiving Office in English, French or German. An international application filed in another language will be forwarded to the IB to act as receiving Office instead of the EPO.

Art. 3(4)(i), 11(1)(ii) PCT

R. 12, 19.4 PCT
WIPO PCT Guide 54 - 55
Art. 150(2) EPC

R. 1, 104 EPC
OJ 1993, 540

If an application is filed with the EPO as receiving Office in one of its official languages, that language is considered the language of the proceedings which may not be changed during the international phase or on entry into the European phase (see point 199 ff). However, with the exception of amendments and corrections to the application, for which the language of the international application must be used, any other correspondence with the EPO may be in any of the EPO's three official languages.