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Chapter III – Representation

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  2. European Patent Convention (EPC 1973) – Table of Contents
  3. European Patent Convention
  4. Part VII
  5. Chapter III
  6. Article 133
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Article 133 – General principles of representation

Article 133 – General principles of representation
Article 134 – Professional representatives

Article 133 92
General principles of representation

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.

(1) 93 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, no person shall be compelled to be represented by a professional representative in proceedings established by this Convention.

(2) Natural or legal persons not having either a residence or their principal place of business within the territory of one of the Contracting States must be represented by a professional representative and act through him in all proceedings established by this Convention, other than in filing the European patent application; the Implementing Regulations may permit other exceptions.

(3) Natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business within the territory of one of the Contracting States may be represented in proceedings established by this Convention by an employee, who need not be a professional representative but who must be authorised in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. The Implementing Regulations may provide whether and under what conditions an employee of such a legal person may also represent other legal persons which have their principal place of business within the territory of one of the Contracting States and which have economic connections with the first legal person.

(4) The Implementing Regulations may prescribe special provisions concerning the common representation of parties acting in common.


92See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/94, G 4/95, G 3/99 (Annex I).

93See Legal advice No. 6/91 rev. (Annex II).

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EPC - Reference
  • Art. 91, 134, 144
    R. 26, 55, 78, 90, 92, 100, 101
Cross-reference list
  • EPC 1973EPC 2000
    Art. 133 Art. 133
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