EPO file inspection service now "open all hours" On the website of the EPO an announcement has just appeared, that its file inspection service called "Register Plus" is with immediate effect open to internet access at any hour of the day or night (except for the 30 minutes between 5 am and 5.30 am for essential maintenance). For many years now, the EPO has been making its prosecution files ("all documents") open to online visitors, cost-free and password-free. The entire file is downloadable in PDF format, cost-free. This is an attractive service, not least for those wanting to follow the progress of a competitor's patent application, or the defence of a patent against a vigorous opposition. However, a frequent gripe from those in time zones many hours away from CET is that the service is cut off at 18.00 CET each evening, only coming online again the following morning. That's now history. Non-European readers can now enjoy the opportunities to read from their desks, during their working day, the entire content of the EPO files of cases of interest to them. Instructions how to get quickly into an EPO file are set out below. Hoffmann · Eitle has its own specialist search department, which already follows progress on a multitude of EPO files, and can monitor for you the progress of events on any specific EPO file of interest to you, reporting to you in whatever frequency and format you like best. Just identify to us the file you want us to watch, and we can do the rest. With the present pre-occupation with Patent Office backlogs, and push for more harmonisation, it will be interesting to see how much use of EPO file inspection is made by Examiners in other Patent Offices around the world. The EPO is getting its extended search report (EESR) out very soon after the filing date of many newly filed patent applications. The EESR includes an opinion on patentability (effectively a first "action on the merits"). One supposes that Examiners in the USPTO, under pressure to dispose of applications, will find EESR opinions useful, and will therefore become heavy users of the EPO online file inspection possibilities. While Europe slumbers, the EPO server is going to be busy through the night. To access Register Plus goto www.epoline.org and select "Register Plus" in the left-hand panel. · back