Heli Pihlajamaa June 2015 Director Patent Law

Update on electronic tools of the EPO – notification, filing and fee payment

2European Patent Office

PCT-matters in IP5 WG3

Introduction of ‘top-up’ searches in PCT Chapter II

Information regarding search strategies

Collaborative Search & Examination

Incorporation by reference of missing parts or elements

Transmittal of earlier search results

3European Patent Office

Overview

Electronic notification

− Amendments to Rule 127 EPC

− Mailbox service

Electronic filing – new filings tools

− New Online Filing (CMS)

− Web-form Filing

Fee payment

4European Patent Office

Electronic notification

new Rule 127 EPC amendment in force since 1 April 2015 signifies equal importance of electronic notification confirms the 10 day rule for electronic notification in the

Implementing Regulations:

− a communication is deemed to be notified on the 10th day after

transmission

− equal treatment with notification on paper (cf. Rule 126(2) EPC)

legal safeguards:

− express agreement to electronic notification by the

addressee required

− burden of proof for (timely) electronic notification lies with the EPO

see Notice of the EPO dated 30 March 2015 (OJ EPO 2015, A36)

5European Patent Office

Electronic notification

Mailbox service requires smart card and activation of the mailbox limited in scope (communications up to grant – see list on the EPO

website) and participation (professional representatives only)

6European Patent Office

Electronic filing 2000: Online Filing

client software package installed on user’s PC requires a smart card (for wrapping and sending)

7European Patent Office

Electronic filing 2014 (1) – New Online Filing (CMS)

web-based application: no need for software installation and update requires activated smart card (for log-on) for all types of documents, with the exception of priority documents PDF, XML, and ST25 sequences listings access rights management, multi-user features, portfolio management,

templates, address book, fee payment etc.

8European Patent Office

Electronic filing 2014 (2) – Web-form filing

web-based application for upload of PDF documents quick-and-easy online registration and log-on (e-mail / password) not for documents relating to opposition, limitation, revocation and

appeal and for priority documents filing only – no additional features

9European Patent Office

Fee payment

Online Fee Payment

− web-based application

− requires smart card and

EPO deposit account

− monitor account

− set up and manage

automatic debit orders

− since 1.4.2015:

automatic debit orders also for PCT fees (RO / ISA / IPEA)

Online Filing & New Online Filing (CMS)

− allows filing of single payment orders (individual or automatic

debit orders including automatic debit orders for PCT fees)

10European Patent Office

Thank you for your attention!