In specific cases, parties to proceedings before the EPO may have an interest in enquiring about the progress of the file and thus obtaining information on when the next Office action is to be expected.

Further to the revision of the conditions applicable to the PACE programme, the implementation of Early Certainty from Search (ECfS) in July 2014 has revealed the need to enhance and clearly define the procedure for the filing and handling of such enquiries.

I. Background

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) announced on 24 September 2014 their intention to launch a comprehensive Patent Prosecution Highway pilot programme.

The fees guidance currently applicable is set out in OJ EPO 2016, A26.

The current schedule of fees and expenses of the EPO is set out in supplementary publication 2, OJ EPO 2016.

Fee information is also published on the EPO website: www.epo.org/fees.

Entry into force: 23 September 2016

1. Under Rule 134(1) EPC, time limits expiring on a day on which at least one EPO filing office is not open for receipt of documents (closing days) are extended until the first day thereafter on which all the filing offices are open for receipt of documents and on which ordinary mail is delivered.