Article 134a - Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office
(1) The Administrative Council shall be competent to adopt and amend provisions governing:
(a) the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office, hereinafter referred to as the Institute;
(b) the qualifications and training required of a person for admission to the European qualifying examination and the conduct of such examination;
(c) the disciplinary power exercised by the Institute or the European Patent Office in respect of professional representatives;
(d) the obligation of confidentiality on the professional representative and the privilege from disclosure in proceedings before the European Patent Office in respect of communications between a professional representative and his client or any other person.
(2) Any person entered on the list of professional representatives referred to in Article 134, paragraph 1, shall be a member of the Institute.
Notes
- Inserted by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.
- See Regulation on the establishment of an Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (OJ EPO 1997, 350) and the changes of 07.06.2002 (OJ EPO 2002, 429 ff), 17.06.2004 (OJ EPO 2004, 361) and 07.12.2006 (OJ EPO 2007, 12).See decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 31/08 of 10.12.2008 determining the members of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office to whom Article 15 of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Patent Organisation applies (OJ EPO 2009, 28), which entered into force on 01.01.2009.
- See Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives before the EPO as of 10.12.2008 (CA/D 26/08, OJ EPO 2009, 9),as amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 25/23 of 14.12.2023 (OJ EPO 2024, A4), which entered into force on 01.01.2025 and implementing provisions as of 10.12.2008 and instructions concerning the qualifications required for enrolment for the European qualifying examination 01.01.2025 (OJ EPO 2024, A25)(all published in the supplementary publication 2, OJ EPO 2019).
- See Regulation on discipline for professional representatives of 21.10.1977 (OJ EPO 1978, 91 ff; re amendment see OJ EPO 2008, 14) (consolidated version published in supplementary publication 1, OJ EPO 2024, 145), additional rules of procedure of the three disciplinary bodies of 06.06.1980 (OJ EPO 1980, 176 ff; re amendments see OJ EPO 2007, 552 and 548) and Code of Conduct of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (OJ EPO 2003, 523 ff)(OJ EPO 2025, A42).See business distribution scheme of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal 2026 (OJ EPO 2026, A13), with amendments in the course of the year published only on the relevant web-section of the Boards of Appeal.
Article 134a - Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office
(1) The Administrative Council shall be competent to adopt and amend provisions governing:
(a) the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office, hereinafter referred to as the Institute;
(b) the qualifications and training required of a person for admission to the European qualifying examination and the conduct of such examination;
(c) the disciplinary power exercised by the Institute or the European Patent Office in respect of professional representatives;
(d) the obligation of confidentiality on the professional representative and the privilege from disclosure in proceedings before the European Patent Office in respect of communications between a professional representative and his client or any other person.
(2) Any person entered on the list of professional representatives referred to in Article 134, paragraph 1, shall be a member of the Institute.
Notes
- Inserted by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.
- See Regulation on the establishment of an Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (OJ EPO 1997, 350) and the changes of 07.06.2002 (OJ EPO 2002, 429 ff), 17.06.2004 (OJ EPO 2004, 361) and 07.12.2006 (OJ EPO 2007, 12).See decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 31/08 of 10.12.2008 determining the members of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office to whom Article 15 of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Patent Organisation applies (OJ EPO 2009, 28), which entered into force on 01.01.2009.
- See Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives before the EPO as of 10.12.2008 (CA/D 26/08, OJ EPO 2009, 9),as amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 25/23 of 14.12.2023 (OJ EPO 2024, A4), which entered into force on 01.01.2025 and implementing provisions as of 10.12.2008 and instructions concerning the qualifications required for enrolment for the European qualifying examination 01.01.2025 (OJ EPO 2024, A25)(all published in the supplementary publication 2, OJ EPO 2019).
- See Regulation on discipline for professional representatives of 21.10.1977 (OJ EPO 1978, 91 ff; re amendment see OJ EPO 2008, 14) (consolidated version published in supplementary publication 1, OJ EPO 2024, 145), additional rules of procedure of the three disciplinary bodies of 06.06.1980 (OJ EPO 1980, 176 ff; re amendments see OJ EPO 2007, 552 and 548) and Code of Conduct of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (OJ EPO 2003, 523 ff)(OJ EPO 2025, A42).See business distribution scheme of the Disciplinary Board of Appeal 2026 (OJ EPO 2026, A13), with amendments in the course of the year published only on the relevant web-section of the Boards of Appeal.