OJ EPO 2014, A24 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 11 February 2014 concerning revision of the Arrangements for deposit accounts and their annexes

The Arrangements for deposit accounts and their annexes have been revised to clarify the debiting procedures or take account of developments in practice and technology since the previous version entered into force on 1 April 2009. Some editorial changes have also been made.

Given the varied nature of the changes, users are recommended to read the individual revised provisions carefully.

The main changes can be summarised as follows.

OJ EPO 2014, A25 - List of professional representatives before the European Patent Office

OJ EPO 2014, A26 - Important information about fee payments

A revised version of the Arrangements for deposit accounts (ADA) [ 1 ] and their annexes enters into force on 1 April 2014, and will be published together with an EPO notice in a supplementary publication to the EPO's March 2014 Official Journal. The main changes are as follows:

OJ EPO 2014, A27 - Guidance for the payment of fees, expenses and prices

The fees guidance currently applicable is set out in OJ EPO 2012, 258 ff, taking into consideration the changed amounts of fees for international applications (OJ EPO 2013, 631).

The current schedule of fees and expenses of the EPO is set out in the supplement to OJ EPO 3/2012.

OJ EPO 2014, A28 - Bank accounts of the European Patent Organisation

Important information for patent applicants

1. Fee payments to EPO bank accounts must be made in EUR and transferred without charge to the payee.

2. On the bank transfer, the payer must give the following payment-reference information:

- patent application number

- fee code(s)

Examples: <EPXXXXXXXX.X, codes XXX, XXX>, < PCT USXXXXXXXXXX codes XXX, XXX, XXX>.,

OJ EPO 2014, A29 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 21 February 2014 concerning the refund of the search fee under Article 9(2) of the Rules relating to Fees

THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE,

having regard to Article 9(2) of the Rules relating to Fees,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

OJ EPO 2014, A30 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 21 February 2014 concerning the refund of the international search fee by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority

THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE,

having regard to the Agreement under the PCT between the European Patent Organisation and the International Bureau of WIPO which entered into force on 13 December 2007, and in particular Article 5(2)(i) and Annex C, Part II(3) thereof,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

OJ EPO 2014, A31 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 10 February 2014 concerning search and examination fees

On 1 April 2014 an Administrative Council decision enters into force:

OJ EPO 2014, A32 - Notice from the EPO about the deployment of non-examining staff as support for Examining and Opposition Divisions

From March 2014, Examining and Opposition Divisions may rely on paralegal support before/during/after oral proceedings in examination and opposition procedures. This includes the preparation of facts and submissions or other documents for the division, the drafting of the minutes of the oral proceedings for the division as well as any administrative support as appropriate.

OJ EPO 2014, A33 - Notice from the European Patent Office concerning the requirements to be observed when filing an international application with the EPO as a PCT receiving Office