Guide for Applicants - Part 2:How to get a European patent: D. The EPO as an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) - PCT Chapter II, II. The international preliminary examination procedure before the EPO as an IPEA, Fourth case: The EPO did not act as ISA and the EPO as IPEA has objections

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

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

Fourth case: The EPO did not act as ISA and the EPO as IPEA has objections

Third case: The EPO did not act as ISA and the EPO as IPEA has no objections

Time limit for reply to the written opinion

Fourth case: The EPO did not act as ISA and the EPO as IPEA has objections

146

If the WO-ISA was issued by another ISA (see point 108), the WO-ISA is not considered to be the first written opinion of the EPO as IPEA (see point 142). If the EPO as IPEA has objections to the (amended) application for which preliminary examination has been requested, it will issue a first written opinion. In this opinion, the applicant is set a time limit for replying. It is in the applicant's interest to make use of the opportunity to give a detailed and complete response, since as a rule no more than one written opinion is issued.

R. 66.1bis, 66.2, 66.4, 66.4bis PCT