Guide for Applicants - Part 2:How to get a European patent: D. The EPO as an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) - PCT Chapter II, I. General, Competence of the EPO as an IPEA

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

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

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

E. Euro-PCT procedure before the EPO as a designated (PCT Chapter I) or elected (PCT Chapter II) Office

I. General

II. The international preliminary examination procedure before the EPO as an IPEA

Competence of the EPO as an IPEA

Competence of the EPO as an IPEA

105

The EPO's competence as an IPEA is in principle universal, ie not restricted to international applications from, eg, the EPC contracting states. However, this does not mean that the EPO carries out preliminary examination for every international application. Here, restrictions apply as set out hereafter (see points 106-113).

Art. 32 PCT

R. 59.1 PCT
WIPO PCT Guide, 327