<P> The Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office (or, for short, the EPO Guidelines) are general instructions, for the examiners working at the European Patent Office (EPO) as well as for the parties interacting with the EPO, on the practice and procedure at the EPO in the various aspects of the prosecution of European patent applications and European patents . The Guidelines have been adopted, effective as at 1 June 1978, by the President of the EPO in accordance with Article 10 (2) (a) EPC . </P> <P> Since June 2012, the Guidelines include eight parts, relating respectively to the formalities examination (Part A), the search (Part B), the procedural aspects of substantive examination (Part C), the opposition and limitation / revocation procedures (Part D), general procedural matters (Part E), the European patent application (Part F), patentability (Part G), and the amendments and corrections (Part H). The Guidelines are revised annually . </P>

Guidelines for examination in the european patent office