European Patent Convention

Article 4 {*3} - European Patent Organisation

(1) A European Patent Organisation, hereinafter referred to as the Organisation, is established by this Convention. It shall have administrative and financial autonomy. (2) The organs of the Organisation shall be: (a) the European Patent Office; (b) the Administrative Council. (3) The task of the Organisation shall be to grant European patents. This shall be carried out by the European Patent Office supervised by the Administrative Council. References: Art. 4a, 10-36 R. 9-13 {*3} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88, G 1/04 (Annex I).

Article 54 {*42}, {*43} - Novelty

(1) An invention shall be considered to be new if it does not form part of the state of the art. (2) The state of the art shall be held to comprise everything made available to the public by means of a written or oral description, by use, or in any other way, before the date of filing of the European patent application. (3) Additionally, the content of European patent applications as filed, the dates of filing of which are prior to the date referred to in paragraph 2 and which were published on or after that date, shall be considered as comprised in the state of the art. (4) Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not exclude the patentability of any substance or composition, comprised in the state of the art, for use in a method referred to in Article 53(c), provided that its use for any such method is not comprised in the state of the art. (5) {*44} Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall also not exclude the patentability of any substance or composition referred to in paragraph 4 for any specific use in a method referred to in Article 53(c), provided that such use is not comprised in the state of the art. References: Art. 53, 55, 56, 80, 85, 89, 100, 138, 153 R. 40, 42, 61, 138, 165 {*42} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*43} See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/88, G 6/88, G 1/92, G 3/93, G 1/98, G 2/98, G 3/98, G 2/99, G 1/03, G 2/03, G 2/08, G 1/16 (Annex I). {*44} See notice from the EPO of 20.09.2010 (OJ EPO 2010, 514).

Article 41 Advances

(1) At the request of the President of the European Patent Office, the Contracting States shall grant advances to the Organisation, on account of their payments and contributions, within the limit of the amount fixed by the Administrative Council. The amount of such advances shall be determined in proportion to the amounts due from the Contracting States for the accounting period in question. (2) Article 39, paragraphs 3 and 4, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the advances. References: Art. 50, 146

Article 13 - Disputes between the Organisation and the employees of the European Patent Office

(1) Employees and former employees of the European Patent Office or their successors in title may apply to the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization in the case of disputes with the European Patent Organisation, in accordance with the Statute of the Tribunal and within the limits and subject to the conditions laid down in the Service Regulations for permanent employees or the Pension Scheme Regulations or arising from the conditions of employment of other employees. (2) An appeal shall only be admissible if the person concerned has exhausted such other means of appeal as are available to him under the Service Regulations, the Pension Scheme Regulations or the conditions of employment.

Article 52 {*38}, {*39} - Patentable inventions

(1) European patents shall be granted for any inventions, in all fields of technology, provided that they are new, involve an inventive step and are susceptible of industrial application. (2) The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of paragraph 1: (a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods; (b) aesthetic creations; (c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers; (d) presentations of information. (3) Paragraph 2 shall exclude the patentability of the subject-matter or activities referred to therein only to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to such subject-matter or activities as such. References: Art. 54, 56, 57, 100, 138 R. 26, 27, 29 {*38} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*39} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/98, G 1/03, G 2/03, G 3/08, G 1/16 (Annex I).

Article 55 - Non-prejudicial disclosures

(1) For the application of Article 54, a disclosure of the invention shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred no earlier than six months preceding the filing of the European patent application and if it was due to, or in consequence of: (a) {*45} an evident abuse in relation to the applicant or his legal predecessor, or (b) the fact that the applicant or his legal predecessor has displayed the invention at an official, or officially recognised, international exhibition falling within the terms of the Convention on international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and last revised on 30 November 1972. (2) In the case of paragraph 1(b), paragraph 1 shall apply only if the applicant states, when filing the European patent application, that the invention has been so displayed and files a supporting certificate within the time limit and under the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulations. References: Art. 100, 138 R. 25, 159 {*45} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/98, G 2/99 (Annex I).

Article 47 - Provisional budget

(1) If, at the beginning of the accounting period, the budget has not been adopted by the Administrative Council, expenditures may be effected on a monthly basis per heading or other division of the budget, in accordance with the Financial Regulations, up to one-twelfth of the budget appropriations for the preceding accounting period, provided that the appropriations thus made available to the President of the European Patent Office shall not exceed one-twelfth of those provided for in the draft budget. (2) The Administrative Council may, subject to the observance of the other provisions laid down in paragraph 1, authorise expenditure in excess of one-twelfth of the appropriations. (3) The payments referred to in Article 37(b) shall continue to be made, on a provisional basis, under the conditions determined under Article 39 for the year preceding that to which the draft budget relates. (4) The Contracting States shall pay each month, on a provisional basis and in accordance with the scale referred to in Article 40, paragraphs 3 and 4, any special financial contributions necessary to ensure implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2. Article 39, paragraph 4, shall apply mutatis mutandis to these contributions. References: Art. 146

Article 36 - Weighting of votes

(1) In respect of the adoption or amendment of the Rules relating to Fees and, if the financial contribution to be made by the Contracting States would thereby be increased, the adoption of the budget of the Organisation and of any amending or supplementary budget, any Contracting State may require, following a first ballot in which each Contracting State shall have one vote, and whatever the result of this ballot, that a second ballot be taken immediately, in which votes shall be given to the States in accordance with paragraph 2. The decision shall be determined by the result of this second ballot. (2) The number of votes that each Contracting State shall have in the second ballot shall be calculated as follows: (a) the percentage obtained for each Contracting State in respect of the scale for the special financial contributions, pursuant to Article 40, paragraphs 3 and 4, shall be multiplied by the number of Contracting States and divided by five; (b) the number of votes thus given shall be rounded upwards to the next whole number; (c) five additional votes shall be added to this number; (d) nevertheless, no Contracting State shall have more than 30 votes.

Article 29 - Meetings

(1) Meetings of the Administrative Council shall be convened by its Chairman. (2) The President of the European Patent Office shall take part in the deliberations of the Administrative Council. (3) The Administrative Council shall hold an ordinary meeting once each year. In addition, it shall meet on the initiative of its Chairman or at the request of one-third of the Contracting States. (4) The deliberations of the Administrative Council shall be based on an agenda, and shall be held in accordance with its Rules of Procedure. (5) The provisional agenda shall contain any question whose inclusion is requested by any Contracting State in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Article 24 {*26} - Exclusion and objection

(1) Members of the Boards of Appeal or of the Enlarged Board of Appeal may not take part in a case in which they have any personal interest, or if they have previously been involved as representatives of one of the parties, or if they participated in the decision under appeal. (2) If, for one of the reasons mentioned in paragraph 1, or for any other reason, a member of a Board of Appeal or of the Enlarged Board of Appeal considers that he should not take part in any appeal, he shall inform the Board accordingly. (3) Members of a Board of Appeal or of the Enlarged Board of Appeal may be objected to by any party for one of the reasons mentioned in paragraph 1, or if suspected of partiality. An objection shall not be admissible if, while being aware of a reason for objection, the party has taken a procedural step. An objection may not be based upon the nationality of members. (4) The Boards of Appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall decide as to the action to be taken in the cases specified in paragraphs 2 and 3, without the participation of the member concerned. For the purposes of taking this decision the member objected to shall be replaced by his alternate. References: R. 144 {*26} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/91, G 1/05, G 2/08 of 15.06.2009, G 3/08 of 16.10.2009 (Annex I).

Article 149a {*175} - Other agreements between the Contracting States

(1) Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as limiting the right of some or all of the Contracting States to conclude special agreements on any matters concerning European patent applications or European patents which under this Convention are subject to and governed by national law, such as, in particular (a) an agreement establishing a European patent court common to the Contracting States party to it; (b) an agreement establishing an entity common to the Contracting States party to it to deliver, at the request of national courts or quasi-judicial authorities, opinions on issues of European or harmonised national patent law; (c) {*176} an agreement under which the Contracting States party to it dispense fully or in part with translations of European patents under Article 65; (d)an agreement under which the Contracting States party to it provide that translations of European patents as required under Article 65 may be filed with, and published by, the European Patent Office. (2) The Administrative Council shall be competent to decide that: (a)the members of the Boards of Appeal or the Enlarged Board of Appeal may serve on a European patent court or a common entity and take part in proceedings before that court or entity in accordance with any such agreement; (b)the European Patent Office shall provide a common entity with such support staff, premises and equipment as may be necessary for the performance of its duties, and the expenses incurred by that entity shall be borne fully or in part by the Organisation. References: Art. 35 {*175} Inserted by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*176} See the Agreement of 17.10.2000 on the application of Article 65 EPC (London Agreement, OJ EPO 2001, 549), which entered into force on 01.05.2008 (OJ EPO 2008, 123) and which currently has 22 contracting states: AL, BE, CH, DE, DK, FI, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IS, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, NL, NO, SE, SI (see www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/london-agreement.html).

Article 2 - European patent

(1) Patents granted under this Convention shall be called European patents. (2) The European patent shall, in each of the Contracting States for which it is granted, have the effect of and be subject to the same conditions as a national patent granted by that State, unless this Convention provides otherwise. References: Art. 63-65, 68, 69, 70, 99-105c, 142 R. 75, 85, 89, 90-96

Article 33 {*29}, {*30} - Competence of the Administrative Council in certain cases

(1) The Administrative Council shall be competent to amend: (a) the time limits laid down in this Convention; (b) Parts II to VIII and Part X of this Convention, to bring them into line with an international treaty relating to patents or European Community legislation relating to patents; (c) the Implementing Regulations. (2) The Administrative Council shall be competent, in conformity with this Convention, to adopt or amend: (a) the Financial Regulations; (b) the Service Regulations for permanent employees and the conditions of employment of other employees of the European Patent Office, the salary scales of the said permanent and other employees, and also the nature of any supplementary benefits and the rules for granting them; (c) the Pension Scheme Regulations and any appropriate increases in existing pensions to correspond to increases in salaries; (d) the Rules relating to Fees; (e) its Rules of Procedure. (3) Notwithstanding Article 18, paragraph 2, the Administrative Council shall be competent to decide, in the light of experience, that in certain categories of cases Examining Divisions shall consist of one technically qualified examiner only. Such decision may be rescinded. (4) The Administrative Council shall be competent to authorise the President of the European Patent Office to negotiate and, subject to its approval, to conclude agreements on behalf of the European Patent Organisation with States, with intergovernmental organisations and with documentation centres set up on the basis of agreements with such organisations. (5) The Administrative Council may not take a decision under paragraph 1(b): -concerning an international treaty, before its entry into force; -concerning European Community legislation, before its entry into force or, where that legislation lays down a period for its implementation, before the expiry of that period. References: Art. 35 R. 9, 12c, 122 {*29} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*30} See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88, G 6/95, G 1/02 (Annex I).

Article 26 - Membership

(1) The Administrative Council shall be composed of the Representatives and the alternate Representatives of the Contracting States. Each Contracting State shall be entitled to appoint one Representative and one alternate Representative to the Administrative Council. (2) The members of the Administrative Council may, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Administrative Council, be assisted by advisers or experts.

Article 27 Chairmanship

(1) The Administrative Council shall elect a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman from among the Representatives and alternate Representatives of the Contracting States. The Deputy Chairman shall ex officio replace the Chairman if he is prevented from carrying out his duties. (2) The terms of office of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman shall be three years. They may be re-elected.

Article 35 {*31} - Voting rules

(1) The Administrative Council shall take its decisions, other than those referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, by a simple majority of the Contracting States represented and voting. (2) A majority of three-quarters of the votes of the Contracting States represented and voting shall be required for the decisions which the Administrative Council is empowered to take under Article 7, Article 11, paragraph 1, Article 33, paragraphs 1(a) and (c), and 2 to 4, Article 39, paragraph 1, Article 40, paragraphs 2 and 4, Article 46, Article 134a, Article 149a, paragraph 2, Article 152, Article 153, paragraph 7, Article 166 and Article 172. (3) Unanimity of the Contracting States voting shall be required for the decisions which the Administrative Council is empowered to take under Article 33, paragraph 1(b). The Administrative Council shall take such decisions only if all the Contracting States are represented. A decision taken on the basis of Article 33, paragraph 1(b), shall not take effect if a Contracting State declares, within twelve months of the date of the decision, that it does not wish to be bound by that decision. (4) Abstentions shall not be considered as votes. {*31} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 21 {*20}, {*21} - Boards of Appeal

(1) The Boards of Appeal shall be responsible for the examination of appeals from decisions of the Receiving Section, the Examining Divisions and Opposition Divisions, and the Legal Division. (2) For appeals from decisions of the Receiving Section or the Legal Division, a Board of Appeal shall consist of three legally qualified members. (3) For appeals from a decision of an Examining Division, a Board of Appeal shall consist of: (a) two technically qualified members and one legally qualified member, when the decision concerns the refusal of a European patent application or the grant, limitation or revocation of a European patent, and was taken by an Examining Division consisting of less than four members; (b) three technically and two legally qualified members, when the decision was taken by an Examining Division consisting of four members, or when the Board of Appeal considers that the nature of the appeal so requires; (c) three legally qualified members in all other cases. (4) For appeals from a decision of an Opposition Division, a Board of Appeal shall consist of: (a) two technically qualified members and one legally qualified member, when the decision was taken by an Opposition Division consisting of three members; (b)three technically and two legally qualified members, when the decision was taken by an Opposition Division consisting of four members, or when the Board of Appeal considers that the nature of the appeal so requires. References: Art. 11, 15, 106 R. 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 97, 98 {*20} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*21} See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/90, G 8/95, G 1/02, G 3/03, G 1/11 (Annex I).

Article 22 {*22} - Enlarged Board of Appeal

(1) The Enlarged Board of Appeal shall be responsible for: (a) deciding on points of law referred to it by Boards of Appeal under Article 112; (b) giving opinions on points of law referred to it by the President of the European Patent Office under Article 112; (c) deciding on petitions for review of decisions of the Boards of Appeal under Article 112a. (2) In proceedings under paragraph 1(a) and (b), the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall consist of five legally and two technically qualified members. In proceedings under paragraph 1(c), the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall consist of three or five members as laid down in the Implementing Regulations. In all proceedings, a legally qualified member shall be the Chairman. References: Art. 11, 15, 112, 112a R. 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 13, 109 {*22} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 132 - Exchange of publications

(1) The European Patent Office and the central industrial property offices of the Contracting States shall despatch to each other on request and for their own use one or more copies of their respective publications free of charge. (2) The European Patent Office may conclude agreements relating to the exchange or supply of publications.

Article 51 {*37} - Fees

(1) The European Patent Office may levy fees for any official task or procedure carried out under this Convention. (2) Time limits for the payment of fees other than those fixed by this Convention shall be laid down in the Implementing Regulations. (3) Where the Implementing Regulations provide that a fee shall be paid, they shall also lay down the legal consequences of failure to pay such fee in due time. (4) The Rules relating to Fees shall determine in particular the amounts of the fees and the ways in which they are to be paid. {*37} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 10 {*8} - Management

(1) The European Patent Office shall be managed by the President, who shall be responsible for its activities to the Administrative Council. (2) To this end, the President shall have in particular the following functions and powers: (a) he shall take all necessary steps to ensure the functioning of the European Patent Office, including the adoption of internal administrative instructions and information to the public; (b) unless this Convention provides otherwise, he shall prescribe which acts are to be performed at the European Patent Office in Munich and its branch at The Hague respectively; (c) he may submit to the Administrative Council any proposal for amending this Convention, for general regulations, or for decisions which come within the competence of the Administrative Council; (d) he shall prepare and implement the budget and any amending or supplementary budget; (e) he shall submit a management report to the Administrative Council each year; (f) he shall exercise supervisory authority over the staff; (g) subject to Article 11, he shall appoint the employees and decide on their promotion; (h) he shall exercise disciplinary authority over the employees other than those referred to in Article 11, and may propose disciplinary action to the Administrative Council with regard to employees referred to in Article 11, paragraphs 2 and 3; (i) he may delegate his functions and powers. (3) {*9} The President shall be assisted by a number of Vice-Presidents. If the President is absent or indisposed, one of the Vice-Presidents shall take his place in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Administrative Council. References: R. 9, 11 {*8} See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88, G 1/02 (Annex I). {*9} See decision of the Administrative Council of 06.07.1978 on substitution for the President of the EPO (OJ EPO 1978, 326).

Article 18 {*16} - Examining Divisions

(1) The Examining Divisions shall be responsible for the examination of European patent applications. (2) {*17} An Examining Division shall consist of three technically qualified examiners. However, before a decision is taken on a European patent application, its examination shall, as a general rule, be entrusted to one member of the Examining Division. Oral proceedings shall be before the Examining Division itself. If the Examining Division considers that the nature of the decision so requires, it shall be enlarged by the addition of a legally qualified examiner. In the event of parity of votes, the vote of the Chairman of the Examining Division shall be decisive. References: Art. 15, 33, 94, 97 R. 10, 11, 70, 159 {*16} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*17} See opinion of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/02 (Annex I).

Article 20 {*19} - Legal Division

(1) The Legal Division shall be responsible for decisions in respect of entries in the Register of European Patents and in respect of registration on, and deletion from, the list of professional representatives. (2) Decisions of the Legal Division shall be taken by one legally qualified member. References: Art. 15, 127, 134, 134a R. 11 {*19} See decisions of the President of the EPO of 21.11.2013 concerning the responsibilities of the Legal Division (OJ EPO 2013, 600) and concerning the entrustment to non-legally qualified staff of certain duties incumbent on the Legal Division (OJ EPO 2013, 601).

Article 19 {*18} - Opposition Divisions

(1) The Opposition Divisions shall be responsible for the examination of oppositions against any European patent. (2) An Opposition Division shall consist of three technically qualified examiners, at least two of whom shall not have taken part in the proceedings for grant of the patent to which the opposition relates. An examiner who has taken part in the proceedings for the grant of the European patent may not be the Chairman. Before a decision is taken on the opposition, the Opposition Division may entrust the examination of the opposition to one of its members. Oral proceedings shall be before the Opposition Division itself. If the Opposition Division considers that the nature of the decision so requires, it shall be enlarged by the addition of a legally qualified examiner who shall not have taken part in the proceedings for grant of the patent. In the event of parity of votes, the vote of the Chairman of the Opposition Division shall be decisive. References: Art. 99 R. 11, 75-89 {*18} See decision/opinion of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/91, G 1/02 (Annex I).

Article 6 {*6} - Headquarters

(1) The Organisation shall have its headquarters in Munich. (2) The European Patent Office shall be located in Munich. It shall have a branch at The Hague. {*6} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88 (Annex I).

Article 5 {*5} - Legal status

(1) The Organisation shall have legal personality. (2) In each of the Contracting States, the Organisation shall enjoy the most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons under the national law of that State; it may in particular acquire or dispose of movable and immovable property and may be a party to legal proceedings. (3) The President of the European Patent Office shall represent the Organisation. {*5} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88 (Annex I).

Article 11 {*10} - Appointment of senior employees

(1) The President of the European Patent Office shall be appointed by the Administrative Council. (2) The Vice-Presidents shall be appointed by the Administrative Council after the President of the European Patent Office has been consulted. (3) The members, including the Chairmen, of the Boards of Appeal and of the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall be appointed by the Administrative Council on a proposal from the President of the European Patent Office. They may be re-appointed by the Administrative Council after the President of the European Patent Office has been consulted. (4) The Administrative Council shall exercise disciplinary authority over the employees referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3. (5) The Administrative Council, after consulting the President of the European Patent Office, may also appoint as members of the Enlarged Board of Appeal legally qualified members of the national courts or quasi-judicial authorities of the Contracting States, who may continue their judicial activities at the national level. They shall be appointed for a term of three years and may be re-appointed. References: Art. 21, 22, 35 {*10} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 48 - Budget implementation

(1) The President of the European Patent Office shall implement the budget and any amending or supplementary budget on his own responsibility and within the limits of the allocated appropriations. (2) Within the budget, the President of the European Patent Office may, in accordance with the Financial Regulations, transfer funds between the various headings or sub-headings.

Article 46 - Preparation and adoption of the budget

(1) The President of the European Patent Office shall submit the draft budget to the Administrative Council no later than the date prescribed in the Financial Regulations. (2) The budget and any amending or supplementary budget shall be adopted by the Administrative Council. References: Art. 35

Article 30 - Attendance of observers

(1) The World Intellectual Property Organization shall be represented at the meetings of the Administrative Council, in accordance with an agreement between the Organisation and the World Intellectual Property Organization. (2) Other intergovernmental organisations entrusted with carrying out international procedures in the field of patents, with which the Organisation has concluded an agreement, shall be represented at the meetings of the Administrative Council, in accordance with such agreement. (3) Any other intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations carrying out an activity of interest to the Organisation may be invited by the Administrative Council to be represented at its meetings during any discussion of matters of mutual interest.

Article 40 - Level of fees and payments - Special financial contributions

(1) The amounts of the fees referred to in Article 38 and the proportion referred to in Article 39 shall be fixed at such a level as to ensure that the revenue in respect thereof is sufficient for the budget of the Organisation to be balanced. (2) However, if the Organisation is unable to balance its budget under the conditions laid down in paragraph 1, the Contracting States shall remit to the Organisation special financial contributions, the amount of which shall be determined by the Administrative Council for the accounting period in question. (3) These special financial contributions shall be determined in respect of any Contracting State on the basis of the number of patent applications filed in the last year but one prior to that of entry into force of this Convention, and calculated in the following manner: (a) one half in proportion to the number of patent applications filed in that Contracting State; (b) one half in proportion to the second highest number of patent applications filed in the other Contracting States by natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business in that Contracting State. However, the amounts to be contributed by States in which the number of patent applications filed exceeds 25 000 shall then be taken as a whole and a new scale drawn up in proportion to the total number of patent applications filed in these States. (4) Where the scale position of any Contracting State cannot be established in accordance with paragraph 3, the Administrative Council shall, with the consent of that State, decide its scale position. (5) Article 39, paragraphs 3 and 4, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the special financial contributions. (6) The special financial contributions shall be repaid with interest at a rate which shall be the same for all Contracting States. Repayments shall be made in so far as it is possible to provide for this purpose in the budget; the amount thus provided shall be distributed among the Contracting States in accordance with the scale referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4. (7) The special financial contributions remitted in any accounting period shall be repaid in full before any such contributions or parts thereof remitted in any subsequent accounting period are repaid. References: Art. 35, 36, 47, 50, 146, 170, 176

Article 44 - Appropriations for unforeseeable expenditure

(1) The budget of the Organisation may contain appropriations for unforeseeable expenditure. (2) The employment of these appropriations by the Organisation shall be subject to the prior approval of the Administrative Council.

Article 42 {*35} - Budget

(1) The budget of the Organisation shall be balanced. It shall be drawn up in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles laid down in the Financial Regulations. If necessary, there may be amending or supplementary budgets. (2) The budget shall be drawn up in the unit of account fixed in the Financial Regulations. {*35} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 9 - Liability

(1) The contractual liability of the Organisation shall be governed by the law applicable to the contract in question. (2) The non-contractual liability of the Organisation in respect of any damage caused by it or by the employees of the European Patent Office in the performance of their duties shall be governed by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany. Where the damage is caused by the branch at The Hague or a sub-office or employees attached thereto, the law of the Contracting State in which such branch or sub-office is located shall apply. (3) The personal liability of the employees of the European Patent Office towards the Organisation shall be governed by their Service Regulations or conditions of employment. (4) The courts with jurisdiction to settle disputes under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be: (a) for disputes under paragraph 1, the courts of the Federal Republic of Germany, unless the contract concluded between the parties designates a court of another State; (b) for disputes under paragraph 2, the courts of the Federal Republic of Germany, or of the State in which the branch or sub-office is located.

Article 43 - Authorisation for expenditure

(1) The expenditure entered in the budget shall be authorised for the duration of one accounting period, unless the Financial Regulations provide otherwise. (2) In accordance with the Financial Regulations, any appropriations, other than those relating to staff costs, which are unexpended at the end of the accounting period may be carried forward, but not beyond the end of the following accounting period. (3) Appropriations shall be set out under different headings according to type and purpose of the expenditure and subdivided, as far as necessary, in accordance with the Financial Regulations.

Article 49 - Auditing of accounts

(1) The income and expenditure account and a balance sheet of the Organisation shall be examined by auditors whose independence is beyond doubt, appointed by the Administrative Council for a period of five years, which shall be renewable or extensible. (2) The audit shall be based on vouchers and shall take place, if necessary, in situ. The audit shall ascertain whether all income has been received and all expenditure effected in a lawful and proper manner and whether the financial management is sound. The auditors shall draw up a report containing a signed audit opinion after the end of each accounting period. (3) The President of the European Patent Office shall annually submit to the Administrative Council the accounts of the preceding accounting period in respect of the budget and the balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities of the Organisation together with the report of the auditors. (4) The Administrative Council shall approve the annual accounts together with the report of the auditors and shall discharge the President of the European Patent Office in respect of the implementation of the budget.

Article 31 - Languages of the Administrative Council

(1) The languages used in the deliberations of the Administrative Council shall be English, French and German. (2) Documents submitted to the Administrative Council, and the minutes of its deliberations, shall be drawn up in the three languages specified in paragraph 1.

Article 23 {*23} - Independence of the members of the Boards

(1) The members of the Enlarged Board of Appeal and of the Boards of Appeal shall be appointed for a term of five years and may not be removed from office during this term, except if there are serious grounds for such removal and if the Administrative Council, on a proposal from the Enlarged Board of Appeal, takes a decision to this effect. Notwithstanding sentence 1, the term of office of members of the Boards shall end if they resign or are retired in accordance with the Service Regulations for permanent employees of the European Patent Office. (2) The members of the Boards may not be members of the Receiving Section, Examining Divisions, Opposition Divisions or Legal Division. (3) {*24} In their decisions the members of the Boards shall not be bound by any instructions and shall comply only with the provisions of this Convention. (4) {*25} The Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall be adopted in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. They shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Council. References: Art. 11 R. 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 13 {*23} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*24} See decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/06 (Annex I). {*25} See the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal, last amendments approved by decisions of the Administrative Council CA/D 5/19 of 26.06.2019 (OJ EPO 2019, A63) and CA/D 3/21 of 23.03.2021 (OJ EPO 2021, A19) and the Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, last amendments approved by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 3/15 of 25.03.2015 (OJ EPO 2015, A35).See decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 6/95 (Annex I).

Article 14 {*11}, {*12} - Languages of the European Patent Office, European patent applications and other documents

(1) The official languages of the European Patent Office shall be English, French and German. (2) A European patent application shall be filed in one of the official languages or, if filed in any other language, translated into one of the official languages in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Throughout the proceedings before the European Patent Office, such translation may be brought into conformity with the application as filed. If a required translation is not filed in due time, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn. (3) The official language of the European Patent Office in which the European patent application is filed or into which it is translated shall be used as the language of the proceedings in all proceedings before the European Patent Office, unless the Implementing Regulations provide otherwise. (4) Natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business within a Contracting State having a language other than English, French or German as an official language, and nationals of that State who are resident abroad, may file documents which have to be filed within a time limit in an official language of that State. They shall, however, file a translation in an official language of the European Patent Office in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. If any document, other than those documents making up the European patent application, is not filed in the prescribed language, or if any required translation is not filed in due time, the document shall be deemed not to have been filed. (5) European patent applications shall be published in the language of the proceedings. (6) Specifications of European patents shall be published in the language of the proceedings and shall include a translation of the claims in the other two official languages of the European Patent Office. (7) The following shall be published in the three official languages of the European Patent Office: (a)the European Patent Bulletin; (b)the Official Journal of the European Patent Office. (8) Entries in the European Patent Register shall be made in the three official languages of the European Patent Office. In cases of doubt, the entry in the language of the proceedings shall be authentic. References: Art. 70, 80, 90, 92, 93, 97, 98, 103, 127, 129 R. 3-7, 36, 40, 49, 61, 68, 112 {*11} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*12} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 6/91, G 2/95, G 4/08 (Annex I).

Article 34 Voting rights

(1) The right to vote in the Administrative Council shall be restricted to the Contracting States. (2) Each Contracting State shall have one vote, except where Article 36 applies.

Article 130 {*153} - Exchange of information

(1) Unless this Convention or national laws provide otherwise, the European Patent Office and the central industrial property office of any Contracting State shall, on request, communicate to each other any useful information regarding European or national patent applications and patents and any proceedings concerning them. (2) Paragraph 1 shall apply to the communication of information by virtue of working agreements between the European Patent Office and (a) the central industrial property offices of other States; (b) any intergovernmental organisation entrusted with the task of granting patents; (c) any other organisation. (3) Communications under paragraphs 1 and 2(a) and (b) shall not be subject to the restrictions laid down in Article 128. The Administrative Council may decide that communications under paragraph 2(c) shall not be subject to such restrictions, provided that the organisation concerned treats the information communicated as confidential until the European patent application has been published. References: R. 141, 148 {*153} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 28 {*28} - Board

(1) When there are at least eight Contracting States, the Administrative Council may set up a Board composed of five of its members. (2) The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Council shall be members of the Board ex officio; the other three members shall be elected by the Administrative Council. (3) The term of office of the members elected by the Administrative Council shall be three years. They may not be re-elected. (4) The Board shall perform the duties assigned to it by the Administrative Council in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. {*28} See decisions of the Administrative Council of 05.06.2003 setting up a Board of the Administrative Council (OJ EPO 2003, 333) and of 30.10.2003 concerning the operation of the Board of the Administrative Council (OJ EPO 2003, 579).

Article 39 - Payments by the Contracting States in respect of renewal fees for European patents

(1) {*34} Each Contracting State shall pay to the Organisation in respect of each renewal fee received for a European patent in that State an amount equal to a proportion of that fee, to be fixed by the Administrative Council; the proportion shall not exceed 75% and shall be the same for all Contracting States. However, if the said proportion corresponds to an amount which is less than a uniform minimum amount fixed by the Administrative Council, the Contracting State shall pay that minimum to the Organisation. (2) Each Contracting State shall communicate to the Organisation such information as the Administrative Council considers to be necessary to determine the amount of these payments. (3) The due dates for these payments shall be determined by the Administrative Council. (4) If a payment is not remitted fully by the due date, the Contracting State shall pay interest from the due date on the amount remaining unpaid. References: Art. 35, 40, 41, 47, 50, 141, 146, 147, 176 {*34} See decision of the Administrative Council of 08.06.1984 on the proportion of renewal fees for European patents to be remitted to the EPO (OJ EPO 1984, 296).

Article 4a {*4} - Conference of ministers of the Contracting States

A conference of ministers of the Contracting States responsible for patent matters shall meet at least every five years to discuss issues pertaining to the Organisation and to the European patent system. References: Art. 4 {*4} Inserted by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 1 - European law for the grant of patents

A system of law, common to the Contracting States {*2}, for the grant of patents for invention is established by this Convention. {*2} There are currently 39 Contracting States: AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, ME, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR.

Article 56 {*46} - Inventive step

An invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step if, having regard to the state of the art, it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art. If the state of the art also includes documents within the meaning of Article 54, paragraph 3, these documents shall not be considered in deciding whether there has been an inventive step. References: Art. 52, 100, 138R. 30, 42, 61 {*46} See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/98, G 3/98, G 2/99, G 1/03, G 2/03, G 1/16 (Annex I).

Article 57 {*47} - Industrial application

An invention shall be considered as susceptible of industrial application if it can be made or used in any kind of industry, including agriculture. References: Art. 52, 100, 138 R. 29, 30, 42 {*47} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/03, G 2/03, G 1/04, G 1/16 (Annex I).

Article 25 - Technical opinion

At the request of the competent national court hearing an infringement or revocation action, the European Patent Office shall be obliged, on payment of an appropriate fee, {*27} to give a technical opinion concerning the European patent which is the subject of the action. The Examining Division shall be responsible for issuing such opinions. {*27} See Article 2(1), item 20, of the Rules relating to Fees.

Article 7 {*7} - Sub-offices of the European Patent Office

By decision of the Administrative Council, sub-offices of the European Patent Office may be created, if need be, for the purpose of information and liaison, in the Contracting States and with intergovernmental organisations in the field of industrial property, subject to the approval of the Contracting State or organisation concerned. References: Art. 35 {*7} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88 (Annex I).

Article 12 - Duties of office

Employees of the European Patent Office shall be bound, even after the termination of their employment, neither to disclose nor to make use of information which by its nature is a professional secret.

Article 53 {*40}, {*41} - Exceptions to patentability

European patents shall not be granted in respect of: (a) inventions the commercial exploitation of which would be contrary to "ordre public" or morality; such exploitation shall not be deemed to be so contrary merely because it is prohibited by law or regulation in some or all of the Contracting States; (b) plant or animal varieties or essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals; this provision shall not apply to microbiological processes or the products thereof; (c) methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body; this provision shall not apply to products, in particular substances or compositions, for use in any of these methods. References: Art. 54, 100, 138 R. 28, 29 {*40} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000. {*41} See decisions/opinion of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/95, G 1/98, G 1/03, G 2/03, G 1/04, G 2/06, G 1/07, G 2/07, G 1/08, G 2/08, G 1/16, G 3/19 (Annex I).

Article 125 {*146} - Reference to general principles

In the absence of procedural provisions in this Convention, the European Patent Office shall take into account the principles of procedural law generally recognised in the Contracting States. {*146} See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/99, G 3/04 (Annex I).

Article 129 {*152} - Periodical publications

The European Patent Office shall periodically publish: (a) a European Patent Bulletin containing the particulars the publication of which is prescribed by this Convention, the Implementing Regulations or the President of the European Patent Office; (b) an Official Journal containing notices and information of a general character issued by the President of the European Patent Office, as well as any other information relevant to this Convention or its implementation. References: Art. 14, 94, 97, 127, 153 R. 21, 31-34, 69, 143 {*152} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 32 - Staff, premises and equipment

The European Patent Office shall place at the disposal of the Administrative Council, and of any committee established by it, such staff, premises and equipment as may be necessary for the performance of their duties.

Article 50 {*36} - Financial Regulations

The Financial Regulations shall lay down in particular: (a) the arrangements relating to the establishment and implementation of the budget and for the rendering and auditing of accounts; (b) the method and procedure whereby the payments and contributions provided for in Article 37 and the advances provided for in Article 41 are to be made available to the Organisation by the Contracting States; (c) the rules concerning the responsibilities of authorising and accounting officers and the arrangements for their supervision; (d) the rates of interest provided for in Articles 39, 40 and 47; (e) the method of calculating the contributions payable by virtue of Article 146; (f) the composition of and duties to be assigned to a Budget and Finance Committee which should be set up by the Administrative Council; (g) the generally accepted accounting principles on which the budget and the annual financial statements shall be based. References: Art. 33 {*36} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 38 {*33} - The Organisation's own resources

The Organisation's own resources shall comprise: (a) all income from fees and other sources and also the reserves of the Organisation; (b) the resources of the Pension Reserve Fund, which shall be treated as a special class of asset of the Organisation, designed to support the Organisation's pension scheme by providing the appropriate reserves. References: Art. 40 {*33} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 8 - Privileges and immunities

The Protocol on Privileges and Immunities annexed to this Convention shall define the conditions under which the Organisation, the members of the Administrative Council, the employees of the European Patent Office, and such other persons specified in that Protocol as take part in the work of the Organisation, shall enjoy, in each Contracting State, the privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their duties.

Article 16 {*14} - Receiving Section

The Receiving Section shall be responsible for the examination on filing and the examination as to formal requirements of European patent applications. References: Art. 15 R. 10, 11 {*14} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 17 {*15} - Search Divisions

The Search Divisions shall be responsible for drawing up European search reports. References: Art. 15, 92 R. 11, 61-65 {*15} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 45 - Accounting period

The accounting period shall commence on 1 January and end on 31 December.

Article 37 {*32} - Budgetary funding

The budget of the Organisation shall be financed: (a) by the Organisation's own resources; (b) by payments made by the Contracting States in respect of renewal fees for European patents levied in these States; (c) where necessary, by special financial contributions made by the Contracting States; (d) where appropriate, by the revenue provided for in Article 146; (e) where appropriate, and for tangible assets only, by third-party borrowings secured on land or buildings; (f) where appropriate, by third-party funding for specific projects. References: Art. 47, 50 {*32} Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Article 3 - Territorial effect

The grant of a European patent may be requested for one or more of the Contracting States. References: Art. 79, 149 R. 39

Article 15 - Departments entrusted with the procedure

To carry out the procedures laid down in this Convention, the following shall be set up within the European Patent Office: (a) a Receiving Section; (b) Search Divisions; (c) Examining Divisions; (d) Opposition Divisions; (e) a Legal Division; (f) Boards of Appeal; (g) an Enlarged Board of Appeal. References: Art. 16-22, 143 R. 8-13 {*13} See opinion of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/02 (Annex I).