Guide for Applicants - Part 2:How to get a European patent: C. The EPO as an International Searching Authority (ISA) - PCT Chapter I, II. The procedure before the EPO as ISA, Access to the WO-ISA

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

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

D. The EPO as an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) - PCT Chapter II

II. The procedure before the EPO as ISA

Access to the WO-ISA

Access to the WO-ISA

The IB and the ISA will not, unless authorised by the applicant, allow anyone access to the WO-ISA before the expiry of 30 months from the priority date. After that date the EPO as designated Office will grant access to the WO-ISA. If the EPO acts as IPEA, the WO-ISA established by the EPO as ISA will be considered a first written opinion for the purposes of Chapter II and may as such become public as part of the Chapter II file. For further information, see points 142 ff and 155.

R. 44ter PCT

WIPO PCT Guide 292 E

GL/EPO E-IX, 5.8