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Chapter III – Representation

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  1. Home
  2. The European Patent Convention – 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 – Representation before the European Patent Office
Article 134a – Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office

Article 133154, 155
General principles of representation

Part VII – Common provisions
Chapter III – Representation

(1) Subject to 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 their residence or principal place of business in a Contracting State shall be represented by a professional representative and act through him in all proceedings established by this Convention, other than in filing a European patent application; the Implementing Regulations may permit other exceptions. 

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

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


154Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

155See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/94, G 4/95, G 3/99 (Annex I).

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EPC - Reference
  • Art. 90, 134, 134a, 144
    R. 41, 76, 126, 130, 142, 143, 151-154
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