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Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office

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New Article 15a of the RPBA on oral proceedings by videoconference before the Boards of Appeal enters into force on 1 April 2021

April 01, 2021

Article 15a RPBA was approved by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation at its 166th meeting on 23 March 2021. It had previously been adopted by the Boards of Appeal Committee (BOAC) on 11 December 2020. The BOAC plans to consult users in due course to assess their experience with it.

The communication of the Boards of Appeal announcing the new article can be found here.

It is noted that new Article 15a(1) RPBA provides that a Board may decide to hold oral proceedings pursuant to Article 116 EPC by videoconference if the Board considers it appropriate to do so, either upon request of a party or of its own motion.

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