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Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office

News Policy

Policy for news items on the epi website

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epi position paper on new WIPO standard for sequence listings

June 27, 2022

This paper has primarily been written by the Biotechnology Committee of the epi. It is being submitted because we have significant concerns with the implementation of WIPO Standard ST.26 on 1st July 2022.

The epi has tried to engage with the EPO on several levels, and with different people and different departments, regarding the new ST.26 standard. However, we are becoming increasingly concerned that the EPO is not sharing users’ concerns and any issues raised are dismissed by summarily reference to the guidance provided by WIPO . It appears that the EPO has decided that it will implement ST.26 irrespective of the potential consequences for the EPO, practitioners, and applicants alike.

This paper is submitted on behalf of the epi to the EPO and can be found here :

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