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epoline[1] is a set of web-based computer programs and services enabling applicants, patentees and their representatives to file patent applications online before the European Patent Office (EPO), as well as to monitor the status of patent applications during their prosecution and patents during an opposition. The epoline products and services have been implemented and are maintained by the EPO, according to the Decision of the President of the EPO dated 29 October 2002.

Products and services

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Besides being available for filing European patent applications with the EPO, the epoline online filing software (also called "Online Filing", "OLF", "eOLF" or "epoline Online Filing") can also be used since December 3, 2003 for filing any official document during patent prosecution. The use of on-line filing passed the 50% level of patent application filings in January 2008.[2] The epoline online filing software also allows to file patent applications online with the national patent offices that support it.

Until March 4, 2009, the epoline online filing software could not be used for filing oppositions or appeal. This had been confirmed by a Board of Appeal decision in T 514/05 of September 8, 2005, according to which "[a]n appeal filed via epoline [could not] have any legal effect absent explicit permission of the President of the EPO."[3] The explicit permission of the President of the EPO has since been provided. Since March 5, 2009 indeed, documents in all proceedings under the EPC, including opposition, appeal, revocation, limitation and review proceedings,[4] may be filed with the EPO in electronic form, i.e. with the epoline software [5] or, subject to prior approval by the EPO, with other software.[6] Priority documents however cannot be filed electronically, "unless they have been digitally signed by the issuing authority and the signature is accepted by the European Patent Office."[7]

WebRegMT is a monitoring tool for monitoring data from the online European Patent Register. The tool sends e-mail alerts when a change occurs in the status of a selected patent application or patent.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ epoline is a trademark of the European Patent Organisation (see community trade marks No: 000970566 and 001070077 at EUIPO)
  2. ^ R. Burt, Report of the On-line Communications Committee (OCC)[permanent dead link], epi Information 2/2008, p. 59.[dead link]
  3. ^ European Patent Office, Decision T 0514/05 of the Technical Board of Appeal 3.4.3 of September 8, 2005. See also (in French) Laurent Teyssedre, T765/08 : recours formés par voie électronique, Le blog du droit européen des brevets, April 18, 2009. Consulted on May 1, 2009.
  4. ^ EPO web site, NEW: online filing of requests and other documents in opposition, appeal, revocation, limitation and review proceedings[permanent dead link], Updates, March 5, 2009. Consulted on March 7, 2009.[dead link]
  5. ^ EPO web site, Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 26 February 2009 concerning the electronic filing of documents Archived 9 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Notices and decisions of the President, 26 February 2009. Consulted on March 7, 2009.[dead link]
  6. ^ Decision of the President of the EPO dated 26 February 2009, Article 5(3).
  7. ^ Decision of the President of the EPO dated 26 February 2009, Article 3.
  8. ^ European Patent Office web site, Guide to the "My.epoline" services WebRegMT, retrieved on August 10, 2006 Archived September 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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