As previously reported, in October 2022, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Office (EPO) decided to amend the rules related to the notification date of documents served by the EPO via postal services or electronic means.

Starting from 1 November 2023, documents from the EPO arriving by post or electronically will be considered notified on the date printed on the document. Consequently, we will no longer be able to add ten days to the document date before calculating the response deadline. With only three months remaining until the 'ten-day rule' is abolished, it is essential for many of us who rely on those extra days in our communications with the EPO to start considering the new rules.

For more details on these changes, please visit: www.secerna.co.uk/insights/news/new-epo-guidance-on-notification-changes-that-will-abolish-the-ten-day-rule/

If you have any questions about this or any other IP matters, please do not hesitate to contact us at docketing@secerna.co.uk.