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Chapter I – Common provisions governing procedure

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  1. Home
  2. European Patent Convention (EPC 1973) – Table of Contents
  3. European Patent Convention
  4. Part VII
  5. Chapter I
  6. Article 120
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Article 120 – Time limits

Article 113 – Basis of decisions
Article 114 – Examination by the European Patent Office of its own motion
Article 115 – Observations by third parties
Article 116 – Oral proceedings
Article 117 – Taking of evidence
Article 118 – Unity of the European patent application or European patent
Article 119 – Notification
Article 120 – Time limits
Article 121 – Further processing of the European patent application
Article 122 – Restitutio in integrum
Article 123 – Amendments
Article 124 – Information concerning national patent applications
Article 125 – Reference to general principles
Article 126 – Termination of financial obligations

Article 120
Time limits

A revised version of the European Patent Convention entered into force on 13 December 2007. The provisions of the revised Convention apply unless the transitional provisions provide for the applicability of the EPC 1973.

The Implementing Regulations shall specify:

(a) the manner of computation of time limits and the conditions under which such time limits may be extended, either because the European Patent Office or the authorities referred to in Article 75, paragraph 1(b), are not open to receive documents or because mail is not delivered in the localities in which the European Patent Office or such authorities are situated or because postal services are generally interrupted or subsequently dislocated;

(b) the minima and maxima for time limits to be determined by the European Patent Office.

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EPC - Reference
  • R. 83-85b, 108
Cross-reference list
  • EPC 1973EPC 2000
    Art. 120 Art. 120
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