HomeHome
 
  • Start page
  • Statistics centre
  • Legal texts

    Legal texts

    Legal texts from the European Patent Office (EPO) in a format optimised for different screen sizes.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • European Patent Convention
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • Official Journal
    • EPC Guidelines
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • PCT-EPO Guidelines
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • Guidelines revision cycle
    • Extension / validation system
    • London Agreement
    • National law relating to the EPC
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • Unitary Patent system
    • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent 
    • Social responsability

    Hand touching a tablet

    EPC now at your fingertips, on all devices

  • News & events

    News & events

    Our latest news, podcasts and events, including the European Inventor Award.

    Go to overview 

     

    • Overview
    • European Inventor Award
      • Overview
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the finalists
      • Nominations
      • Watch the 2022 ceremony
    • Press centre
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service

    EIA jury

    Meet the European Inventor Award jury

 
en de fr
  • Language selection
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
Main navigation
  • Start page
  • Statistics centre
  • Legal texts
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • European Patent Convention
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Documentation on the EPC revision 2000
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Diplomatic Conference for the revision of the EPC
          • Travaux préparatoires
          • New text
          • Transitional provisions
          • Implementing regulations to the EPC 2000
          • Rules relating to Fees
          • Ratifications and accessions
        • Travaux Préparatoires EPC 1973
    • Official Journal
    • EPC Guidelines
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • PCT-EPO Guidelines
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • Guidelines revision cycle
    • Extension / validation system
    • London Agreement
    • National law relating to the EPC
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
    • Unitary Patent system
    • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent 
  • News & events
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • European Inventor Award
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the finalists
      • Nominations
      • Watch the 2022 ceremony
    • Press centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • European Patent Office
        • Q&A on patents related to coronavirus
        • Q&A on plant patents
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
  • Service & support
    • Go back
    • Forms
    • Subscription centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Subscribe
      • Change preferences
      • Unsubscribe
  • Patent Index 2020
Part VII – Common provisions
  1. Home
  2. Legal texts
  3. European Patent Convention
  4. Contents
  5. European Patent Convention
  6. Part VII
  7. Chapter I
  8. Article 121
Print
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email

Chapter I – Common provisions governing procedure

Overview

Article 121140
Further processing of the European patent application

(1) If an applicant fails to observe a time limit vis-à-vis the European Patent Office, he may request further processing of the European patent application. 

(2) The European Patent Office shall grant the request, provided that the requirements laid down in the Implementing Regulations are met. Otherwise, it shall reject the request. 

(3) If the request is granted, the legal consequences of the failure to observe the time limit shall be deemed not to have ensued. 

(4) Further processing shall be ruled out in respect of the time limits in Article 87, paragraph 1, Article 108 and Article 112a, paragraph 4, as well as the time limits for requesting further processing or re-establishment of rights. The Implementing Regulations may rule out further processing for other time limits.


140Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Previous
Next
EPC - Reference
  • R. 135
Footer - Service & support
Footer - More links
Footer
  • Terms of use
  • Legal notice
  • Data protection and privacy