The Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office (EPO) “the Guidelines” act as an instruction manual with respect to the various aspects of the examination of European patent applications and patents before the EPO, that is they dictate the practice and procedure that should be followed under the European Patent Convention (EPC) and its Implementing Regulations “the Rules”.
The Guidelines are updated on an annual basis and the latest edition, which supersedes the previous version, entered into force on 1 March 2024.
Herein we provide a summary of those changes most likely to affect both clients and practitioners alike.