The European Patent Office (EPO) announced the first-ever online filing in an opposition procedure. Filed by Aurel Vollnhals of TBK-Patent, Munich on March 5, 2009 using the new EP(Oppo) software plug-in, this online submission marks a new milestone in the history of Online Filing, according to the Office.
With the introduction of the EP opposition plug-in, all parties - from opponents and interveners through to proprietors and third parties - can now perform all procedural steps in an effective and standardized procedure.
François Knauer, principal director for Office-wide and External Automation, said: "This is an important step towards full online coverage of services for users of the patent system. Now, for the first time, parties other than the applicant can act in an online procedure before the Office."
Provisions have also been made in the Subsequently Filed Documents software plug-in to enable users to submit documents pertaining to appeal procedures, including petitions for review by the Enlarged Board of Appeal.
As confirmed by a decision of the President of the EPO, the introduction of this latest update to the Online Filing software means that all European patent procedures can now be filed online.
The EPO's Online Filing software allows users to file EP, Euro-PCT, PCT and national patent applications online with the EPO or one of the national patent offices. This can be done either via the software itself, or via a patent management system (PMS) interface in the software which allows users to file direct from a PMS.
The key benefits of the Online Filing software are security and confidentiality, reliability, efficiency and user-friendliness.
SOURCE:AGIPNEWS
