Hoffmann Eitle - München, London

15.03.2011 -

EPO Notice concerning the situation in Japan after the earthquake on 11 March 2011

Following the tragic earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on 11 March 2011, the European Patent Office (EPO) issued a Notice on 15 March 2011 explaining general legal remedies provided under the European Patent Convention in the case of the non-observance of time limits.

The EPO Notice generally refers to Rule 134(5) EPC, which provides a safeguard in the case of non-observance of a time limit due to an exceptional occurrence such as a natural disaster or other like reasons affecting the locality where the party or his representative resides or has his place of business. This provision may therefore be invoked by any applicants, parties to proceedings or their representatives affected by the natural and technical disasters in Japan.

The complete EPO Notice can be viewed on the EPO website at www.epo.org.