View source for EPC 2000

{{European patent law}}

The '''EPC 2000''' or '''European Patent Convention 2000''' is the version of the [[European Patent Convention]] (EPC) as revised by the '''Act Revising the Convention on the Grant of European Patents''' signed in [[Munich]] on November 29, 2000. On June 28, 2001, the [[Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation]] adopted the final new text of the EPC 2000. The EPC 2000 entered into force on December 13, 2007.<ref name="FAQ2">[[European Patent Office]] (EPO) web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer2 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014184634/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer2 |date=2009-10-14 }}, item 2. Consulted on October 31, 2007.</ref>

The EPC 2000 does not introduce any major changes in substantive patent law,<ref name=epidosnews>EPO, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/news/epidosnews/epd_1_07/pinews_0107_en.pdf ''EPC 2000 and its impact for patent searchers''], ''[[Patent Information News]]'', Issue 1, 2007, page 1.</ref><ref>EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer9 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014184634/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer9 |date=2009-10-14 }}, item 9. Consulted on October 31, 2007.</ref> except changes concerning [[novelty (patent)|novelty]],<ref>Deletion of {{EPC 1973 Article|54|4}}, regarding the prior art effect of conflicting European patent applications.</ref> [[industrial applicability]] and [[priority right]]s. The EPC 2000 is however a comprehensive revision<ref>EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer1 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014184634/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer1 |date=2009-10-14 }}, item 1. Consulted on October 31, 2007.</ref> introducing "a considerable number of smaller amendments".<ref name=epidosnews/>

== Background ==

A diplomatic conference was held from 20 November to 29 November 2000 in Munich to revise the Convention on the Grant of European Patents of 5 October 1973, amongst other things to integrate in the EPC new developments in [[international law]], especially those of the [[Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights]] (TRIPs Agreement) and of the [[Patent Law Treaty]], and to add a level of judicial review of the [[Appeal procedure before the European Patent Office|Boards of Appeal]] decisions.

== Entry into force ==

Greece deposited its instrument of [[ratification]] on December 13, 2005, and was the fifteenth Contracting State to ratify or [[Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties|accede]] to the EPC 2000.<ref>EPO web site, [http://patlaw-reform.european-patent-office.org/epc2000/status/ "Legislative Initiatives in European patent law" microsite, EPC 2000, Status of accession and ratification] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211022446/http://patlaw-reform.european-patent-office.org/epc2000/status/ |date=2006-02-11 }}</ref> In addition, since not all the contracting states had deposited their instruments of ratification or accession by September 30, 2007, the EPC 2000 entered into force on December 13, 2007.<ref name="FAQ2"/><ref>[[Official Journal of the European Patent Office|Official Journal of the EPO]], 2/2006, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/news/info/pdf/mitteilung_06_02_2006.pdf ''Notice from the European Patent Office dated 27 January 2006 concerning deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification of the EPC Revision Act'']</ref><ref>The EPC 2000 could have entered into force earlier, that is "on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession by the Contracting State taking this step as the last of all Contracting States, if this takes place earlier". However, as mentioned, since not all the contracting states had deposited their instruments of ratification or accession by September 30, 2007, the EPC 2000 entered into force on December 13, 2007.</ref>

A Contracting State that would not have ratified or acceded to the EPC 2000 at the time of its entry into force, i.e. on December 13, 2007, would have ceased to be party to the EPC as from that time.<ref>{{EPC Article|172|4}}</ref> All Contracting States ratified in due time.

== Amendments ==
{{Expand section|list of amendments, which is not exhaustive (e.g., information on deregulation, Swiss-type use claims, and doctrine of equivalents is missing)|date=April 2019}}

=== Prior art effect and double patenting ===
Under the EPC 1973, in order to preclude [[double patenting]],<ref name="54-item 2">OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 52, item 2.</ref> the prior art effect of a first European patent application (a so-called "conflicting patent application") filed before the filing date of a second European patent application, but published after said filing date, on the second application is limited to the designated states in common.<ref>{{EPC 1973 Article|54|4}}</ref> 

In the EPC 2000, this provision, i.e. Article 54(4) EPC, has been deleted.<ref name="54-item 3">OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 52, item 3.</ref> This means in the EPC 2000 that "any European application falling under
Article 54(3) EPC constitutes prior art with effect for all the EPC contracting states at the time of its publication."<ref name="54-item 3"/> {{EPC 1973 Rule|23a}} has been deleted following the deletion of Article 54(4).<ref name="54-item 3"/><ref>Special Edition No. 1 OJ EPO, p. 164.</ref>

The deleted Article 54(4) EPC remains applicable to the European patents granted before December 13, 2007 and the European patent applications pending on December 13, 2007.<ref name="54-item 4">OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 52, item 4.</ref> In other words, Art. 54(4) EPC 1973 is still transitionally applicable.<ref>{{EPO Guidelines|h|iii|4|2}}: "Different text in respect of the state of the art according to Art. 54(3) and Art. 54(4) EPC 1973".</ref>

This amendment along with the absence of a transitional provision for Rule 23a (providing that Rule 23a EPC 1973 would continue to apply for pending applications or granted patents at the date of entry into force of the EPC 2000) has raised concerns that, "if the provisions of the EPC 2000 are interpreted strictly",<ref name="Griebling">O. Griebling, ''[http://www.patentepi.com/downloads/Information/epi_02_2007.pdf EPC2000 invalidates existing patents?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811153924/http://www.patentepi.com/downloads/Information/epi_02_2007.pdf |date=2011-08-11 }}'', [[European Patent Institute|'''epi''' Information]] 2/2007, June 2007, page 61.</ref> patent rights existing at the date of entry into force of the EPC 2000 may become invalid after the entry into force of the EPC 2000, on December 13, 2007.<ref name="Griebling"/> In September 2007, the European Patent Office published a notice indicating that "the provisions currently laid down in Article 54(3) and (4) in conjunction with Rule 23a EPC 1973 will continue to apply to European patent applications filed and patents granted before the entry into force of the EPC 2000".<ref>EPO, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/10_07/10_5047.pdf ''Notice from the European Patent Office dated 20 September 2007 on implementation of the transitional provisions of the EPC 2000 applicable during the transition from the EPC 1973 to the EPC 2000''], [[Official Journal EPO]] 10/2007, p. 504.</ref>

=== Requirements for obtaining a date of filing ===
The requirements to obtain a date of filing (for a European patent application), laid out in Article 80, have been amended. A reference is now made to the Implementing Regulations, which are now in line with "the worldwide standard laid out in Article 5 of the [[Patent Law Treaty]] 2000 (PLT)".<ref name="4/2007-84-1"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 84, item 1.</ref> In particular, Rule 40 EPC 2000 is relevant.<ref name="4/2007-84-1"/> There is no requirement anymore to file [[claim (patent)|claim]]s to obtain a date of filing.<ref name="4/2007-84-2"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 84, item 2.</ref> In addition the description may be filed in any language.<ref name="4/2007-84-2"/> Among the requirements, a reference to a previously filed application may also be used to obtain a date of filing.<ref>{{EPC Rule|40|1|c}}</ref> Furthermore, filing by reference to a previously filed application may incorporate the claims of the previously filed application.<ref>{{EPO Guidelines|a|ii|4|1|3|1}}: "Reference to a previously filed application".</ref><ref>Andrea Veronese & Peter Watchorn, [http://www.epc-compass.com ''Procedural law under the EPC-2000''] (3rd Ed. May 2013), Kastner AG, {{ISBN|978-3-941951-70-9}}, Chapter II.6.4</ref>

From December 13, 2007 to December 19, 2008, "54 applications [have] been received with a later date of receipt of claims than the original application date. Sixty-one invitations to file claims have been prepared for other applications missing the date of receipt of claims.<ref name="1-year">EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/topics/news/2009/20090206.html ''One year on: how applicants have reacted to the revised EPC''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209112033/http://www.epo.org/topics/news/2009/20090206.html |date=2009-02-09 }}, News, February 6, 2009. Consulted on February 8, 2009.</ref> The possibility to replace descriptions and drawings with a reference to a previously filed application was used by applicants 391 times (usually for [[divisional applications under the European Patent Convention|divisional application]]s) during the year following the entry into force of the EPC 2000, "accounting for 0.6 % of all direct European filings."<ref name="1-year"/>

=== Priority rights extended to first filing in WTO members ===
The [[priority right]]s are extended to filing in or for any member of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), in addition to any state party to the [[Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property]].<ref>Article 87(1) EPC 2000</ref> This amendment has been made to align the European Patent Convention with Article 2 of the TRIPS Agreement.<ref>OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 88, item 2.</ref>

=== Legal remedies ===
Extensive changes were also made to the possibilities for the legal remedy of the failure to observe various time limits within the European patent system. Most particularly, the failure to pay various fees (filing fee, designation fee, search fee and examination fee) were, until the coming into force of the EPC 2000, excluded from the standard legal remedies of further processing <ref>{{EPC 1973 Article|121}}</ref> and [[restitutio in integrum|re-establishment of rights]].<ref>{{EPC 1973 Article|122}}</ref> Under the EPC 1973, the failure to observe the time limits for paying these fees could only be remedied by strict grace periods.<ref>{{EPC 1973 Rule|85a}}</ref><ref>{{EPC 1973 Rule|85b}}</ref> These grace periods have now been replaced by the application of further processing <ref>{{EPC Article|121}}</ref> and, if the further processing time limit is missed, re-establishment of rights, which although not directly applicable to the time limit missed originally, is applicable to the failure to observe the time limit for further processing.<ref>{{EPC Article|122}}</ref><ref>{{EPO Guidelines|e|viii|3|1|1}}: "Time limits covered" ("(...) re-establishment of rights comes into play where further processing is excluded in respect of a specific period or where the time limit for requesting further processing has expired. In the latter case, re-establishment of rights in respect of the time limit for requesting further processing is to be requested (see E‑VIII, 2), and not in respect of the originally missed time limit.").</ref> 

One of the biggest changes, was to allow the excuse of the failure to observe the 12 month priority period.<ref>{{EPC Article|87|1}}</ref> If this period is missed, this failure can be remedied by a request for re-establishment of rights filed within 2 months of the expiry of the priority period (in most other cases, the request for re-establishment must be filed within two months of the removal of the impediment to completing the act in question on time, up to a maximum of 12 months<ref>{{EPC Rule|136|1}}</ref>). This is provided that the failure to observe the original period was despite the applicant having taken all due care (i.e. the applicant has a legitimate reason for missing the deadline).<ref>{{EPO Guidelines|a|iii|6|6}}: "Priority period".</ref> There is some uncertainty as to whether this is an aggregate time limit or a unitary time limit, which can make difference of up to several days as to when it expires.<ref>Andrea Veronese & Peter Watchorn, ''Procedural law under the EPC-2000'', Chapter III.4.2.2</ref>

=== Requests for limitation or revocation ===
{{main|Limitation and revocation procedures before the European Patent Office}}
Article 105a(1) EPC 2000 introduces a procedure for centrally limiting or revoking a European patent.<ref>Article 105a(1) EPC 2000.</ref> A request for limitation or revocation may be filed at any time throughout the [[term of patent|term]] of the European patent.<ref>EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer10 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014184634/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer10 |date=2009-10-14 }}, item 10. Consulted on October 31, 2007.</ref>

=== Petition for review ===
{{main|Petition for review under the European Patent Convention}}
Article 112a EPC 2000 introduces a procedure for contesting the decisions of the [[Appeal procedure before the European Patent Office|boards of appeal]] by filing a [[petition for review]].<ref>Article 112a EPC 2000</ref> The petition for review can only be based on a fundamental procedural defect and its purpose is not to obtain a review of the application of substantive law.<ref>EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer14 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014184634/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000/faq.html#answer14 |date=2009-10-14 }}, item 14. Consulted on October 31, 2007.</ref> The petition is in fact a restricted form of judicial review, limited to examining serious errors of procedure which might have been committed by the Legal or Technical Boards of Appeal, prejudicing the right to a fair hearing of one or more appellants.<ref>[http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponet.nsf/0/43F40380331CE97CC125727A0039243C/$File/00002a_en.pdf#page=139 Basic proposal for the revision of the EPC, MR/2/00]</ref> Previously it was not possible for a party who did not have his requests granted in an appeal to challenge the final decision of the Legal or Technical Board of Appeal on any grounds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/g970001ep1.html |title=Enlarged Board of Appeal Decision G1/97 |access-date=2019-08-02 }}</ref>

The first petitions for review included ''R1/08'' (application no 97600009), ''R2/08'' (application no 00936978), ''R3/08'' (application no 01943244) and ''R4/08'' (application no 98116534).<ref>EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/appeals/eba-decisions/petition.html ''Petitions for review under Art. 112a EPC''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127035548/http://www.epo.org/patents/appeals/eba-decisions/petition.html |date=2009-01-27 }}, consulted on December 3, 2008.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fr}} Laurent Teyssedre, [https://europeanpatentcaselaw.blogspot.com/2008/07/premires-requtes-en-rvision.html ''Premières requêtes en révision''], Le blog du droit européen des brevets, July 6, 2008. Consulted on July 6, 2008.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fr}} Laurent Teyssedre, [https://europeanpatentcaselaw.blogspot.com/2008/09/premires-dcisions-statuant-sur-des.html ''Premières décisions statuant sur des requêtes en révision''], Le blog du droit européen des brevets, September 24, 2008. Consulted on September 30, 2008.</ref> The first allowable petition for review was decision R 7/09, for a fundamental violation of {{EPC Article|113}}.<ref>[https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/r090007eu1.html Decision R 7/09 of the Enlarged Board of Appeal dated 22 July 2009]</ref>

== Transitional provisions ==
According to Article 7(1) of the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29 November 2000,<ref>[http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2013/e/ma5b.html Article 7(1) of the Act revising the EPC, Transitional provisions]</ref>
:{{Blockquote|text=The revised version of the Convention shall apply to all European patent applications filed after its entry into force, as well as to all patents granted in respect of such applications. It shall not apply to European patents already granted at the time of its entry into force, or to European patent applications pending at that time, unless otherwise decided by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation.}}

Pursuant to Article 7(1) and (2) of the Act revising the EPC of 29 November 2000, the Administrative Council decided on 28 June 2001 to adopt a certain number of exceptions ("''unless otherwise decided by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation''").<ref>See [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/html/epc/2000/e/ma5c.html ''Decision of the Administrative Council of 28 June 2001 on the transitional provisions under Article 7 of the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29 November 2000''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131191520/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/html/epc/2000/e/ma5c.html |date=31 January 2009 }}</ref> Amongst these exceptions (as laid out in Article 1.1 of the Administrative Council's decision of 28 June 2001), Articles 106 and 108 EPC are said to apply to all European patent applications pending at the time of the entry into force of the EPC 2000.  However, the Legal Board of Appeal in case J 10/07 decided, in order to reflect the intention and purpose of those transitional provisions, to apply Articles 106 and 108 as applicable before the entry into force of the EPC 2000 (i.e. Articles 106 and 108 EPC 1973) to a pending European patent application.<ref name="reasons-1.2">[http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj008/12_08/12_5678.pdf Decision of the Legal Board of Appeal dated 31 March 2008, J 10/07 – 3.1.01], Official Journal EPO 12/2008, p. 567, reasons 1.2.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fr}} Laurent Teyssedre, [https://europeanpatentcaselaw.blogspot.com/2009/01/cbe2000-et-dispositions-transitoires.html ''CBE2000 et Dispositions transitoires''], Le blog du droit européen des brevets, January 4, 2009. Consulted on January 4, 2009.</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== References ==
* European Patent Office, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_4_epc_2000_synoptic.pdf ''Official Journal (OJ) 2007, Special edition 4/2007''] - ''Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Synoptic presentation EPC 1973/2000'' – Part I: The Articles (PDF, 1.72 MB)
* Andrea Veronese & Peter Watchorn, [http://www.epc-compass.com Procedural law under the EPC-2000], 3rd Edition May 2013, [http://www.kastner.de Kastner AG]

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100324192138/http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/archive/epc2000.html EPC 2000] on the [[European Patent Office]] web site
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071215125956/http://www.ige.ch/E/jurinfo/j100.shtm#a05 EPC 2000] on the [[Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property]] web site
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930214830/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-law-changes EPC 2000] on the [[United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office]] web site

=== Further links and readings ===
* EPO web site
** Special editions of the [[Official Journal of the EPO]]:
*** [http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj007/01_07/special_edition_1_epc_2000.pdf 1/2007 - Revision of the EPC (EPC 2000), New texts relevant for patent practitioners], 2007 (PDF, 1.6 MB).
*** [http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_3_epc_2000_decisions.pdf 3/2007 - Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Update of decisions of the President and notices from the European Patent Office of relevance to patent practitioners], 2007 (PDF, 1.3 MB).
*** [http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_4_epc_2000_synoptic.pdf 4/2007 - Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Synoptic presentation EPC 1973/2000 – Part I: The Articles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617121213/http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_4_epc_2000_synoptic.pdf |date=2014-06-17 }}, 2007 (PDF, 1.72 MB).
*** [http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj007/12_07/special_edition_5_epc_2000_regulations.pdf 5/2007 - Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Synoptic presentation EPC 1973/2000 – Part II: The Implementing Regulations], 2007.
* {{in lang|de}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080529170849/http://www.bgblportal.de/BGBL/bgbl1f/bgbl107s2166.pdf ''Gesetz zur Umsetzung der Akte von 29. November 2000 zur Revision des Übereinkommens über die Erteilung europaïscher Patente, Vom 24. August 2007''], Bundesgesetzblatt Jahrgang 2007 Teil I Nr. 45, pp.&nbsp;2166–2168.
** See also:
*** {{in lang|de}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080529170849/http://frei.bundesgesetzblatt.de/pdf/bgbl2/bgbl207s1082.pdf Ratification Act] ("Gesetz zu der Akte vom 29. November 2000 zur Revision des Übereinkommens vom 5. Oktober 1973 über die Erteilung europäischer Patente (Europäisches Patentübereinkommen) Vom 24. August 2007", Bundesgesetzblatt Jahrgang 2007 Teil II Nr. 25, ausgegeben zu Bonn am 31. August 2007, p.&nbsp;1082ff) and
*** {{in lang|de}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080529170909/http://frei.bundesgesetzblatt.de/pdf/bgbl2/bgbl207s1199.pdf Implementing Regulations] published in the German Federal Law Gazette or ''Bundesgesetzblatt'' ("Bekanntmachung der Neufassung der Ausführungsordnung zum Europäischen Patentübereinkommen und der Neufassung der Gebührenordnung der Europäischen Patentorganisation Vom 24. August 2007", Bundesgesetzblatt Jahrgang 2007 Teil II Nr. 25, ausgegeben zu Bonn am 31. August 2007, p.&nbsp;1199ff)

{{European Patent Organisation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Epc 2000}}
[[Category:2000 in law]]
[[Category:European Patent Organisation]]