Archive

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Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office
April 2025HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2024HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2023HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2022HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2021HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
November 2019HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
November 2018HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
November 2017

Standard version

Hyperlinked version

Hyperlinked, showing modifications version
November 2016

Guidelines for Examination

General Part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

Part G

Part H

Alphabetical keyword index

Guidelines for Examination (all parts, showing modifications)
November 2015

Guidelines for Examination

General Part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

Part G

Part H

All parts as ZIP file (ZIP, 5.5 MB)

Alphabetical keyword index

 
November 2014

Complete Guidelines all parts as PDF

General Part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

Part G

Part H

All parts as ZIP file (ZIP, 6.4 MB)

Alphabetical keyword index

 
September 2013

Complete Guidelines all parts as PDF

General Part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

Part G

Part H

All parts as ZIP file (ZIP, 5.9 MB)

 
June 2012

Complete Guidelines

General Part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

Part G

Part H

All parts as ZIP file (ZIP, 5.1 MB)

Table of contents indicating source in Guidelines 2010

Table of correspondence between Guidelines 2010 and 2012

Alphabetical keyword index

 
April 2010

Complete guidelines

General part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

All parts as ZIP file (ZIP, 2 MB)

 
April 2009

Complete guidelines

General part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

All parts as ZIP file (ZIP, 1.5 MB)

 
December 2007

General Part

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Complete Guidelines for Examination

Complete Guidelines for Examination (ZIP, 1.5 MB)

 
June 2005

General Part

Complete Guidelines

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Complete Guidelines PDF version as ZIP file (ZIP, 1.7 MB)

 
December 2003Download 
October 2001Download 

 

Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority
April 2025Hyperlinked
 		Hyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2024Hyperlinked
 		Hyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2023HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2022HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
March 2021HyperlinkedHyperlinked, showing modifications
November 2019Download 
November 2018Download 
November 2017Download 
November 2016Download 
November 2015Download 
Unitary Patent Guidelines
April 2025Hyperlinked
Unitary Patent Guide (discontinued)
November 2024Go to the Unitary Patent Guide (discontinued)