第二章关于申请的规定

Chapter II Provisions governing the application

第41条授权请求

(1)欧洲专利授权的请求应当以欧洲专利局制定的表格递交。

(2)请求应当包含：

(a)欧洲专利授权请求书；

(b)发明名称，其应当清楚简要地表明发明的技术名称并且应当排除奇特的名字。

(c)申请人的名称、地址以及国籍以及其居所或经营场所所在国。自然人的姓名应当由姓和名指示。法人的名称以及根据管理其的法律的相当于法人的主体应当由其官方名称指示。地址应当根据针对快速投递的可用通常要求指示并且包括所有有关的行政单元，包括楼号，如有的话。建议指示传真和电话号码；

(d)如果申请人委托了代理人，代理人的姓名及其营业场所的地址应根据子条款(c)进行描述；

(e)在合适的情况下，申请构成分案申请的指示以及在先欧洲专利申请号；

(f)在由公约第61条第1(b)款覆盖的情况下，原欧洲专利申请的号码；

(g)在可适用的情况下，要求在先申请优先权以及指示在先申请递交的日期和受理的国家的声明；

(h)申请人或其代表人的签名；

(i)请求所附文件的列表。该列表应当还指示与请求一同递交的说明书、权利要求书、附图以及摘要的页数；

(j)在申请人是发明人的情况下，发明人的指定。

(3)如果多于一个申请人，请求应当最好包括对一个申请人或代表人的指定作为共同代表人。

R. 41 Request for grant

(1)The request for grant of a European patent shall be filed on aform drawn up by the European Patent Office.

(2)The request shall contain:

(a)a petition for the grant of a Europeanpatent;

(b)the title of the invention, which shallclearly and concisely state the technical designation of the invention andshall exclude all fancy names;

(c)the name,address and nationality of the applicant and the State in which his residenceor principal place of business is located. Names of natural persons shall beindicated by the person's family name, followed by his given names. Names oflegal persons, as well as of bodies equivalent to legal persons under the lawgoverning them, shall be indicated by their official designations. Addressesshall be indicated in accordance with applicable customary requirements forprompt postal delivery and shall comprise all the relevant administrative units,including the house number, if any. It is recommended that the fax andtelephone numbers be indicated;

(d)if the applicant has appointed arepresentative, his name and the address of his place of business as prescribedin sub-paragraph (c);

(e)where appropriate, an indication thatthe application constitutes a divisional application and the number of theearlier European patent application;

(f)in cases covered by Article 61, paragraph 1(b), thenumber of the original European patent application;

(g)where applicable, a declaration claimingthe priority of an earlier application and indicating the date on which and thecountry in or for which the earlier application was filed;

(h)the signature of the applicant or hisrepresentative;

(i)a list of the documents accompanying therequest. This list shall also indicate the number of sheets of the description,claims, drawings and abstract filed with the request;

(j)the designation of the inventor, wherethe applicant is the inventor.

(3)If there is more than one applicant, therequest shall preferably contain the appointment of one applicant orrepresentative as common representative.

第42条说明书的内容

(1)说明书应当：

(a)明确发明所属技术领域；

(b)指明申请人目前所知的能够有利于理解本发明、做出欧洲检索报告以及审查欧洲专利申请的背景技术，并且最好引用反映该背景技术的文件；

(c)以如下方式公开所要保护的发明：技术问题（即使未明确地表述）及其技术方案能够被理解，并参考背景技术描述本发明的有益效果；

(d)简要描述附图，如果有的话；

(e)在合适的情况下使用示例并参考附图（如果有的话），详细描述实施所要保护的发明的至少一种方式；

(f)当发明工业应用根据发明的性质或说明书不明显时，明确指示发明工业应用的方式。

(2)说明书应当以第1款规定的方式和顺序呈现，除非由于发明的性质，不同的呈现将提供更好的理解或更简洁。

R. 42 Content of the description

(1)The description shall:

(a)specify the technical field to which theinvention relates;

(b)indicate the background art which, asfar as is known to the applicant, can be regarded as useful to understand theinvention, draw up the European search report and examine the European patentapplication, and, preferably, cite the documents reflecting such art;

(c)disclose the invention, as claimed, insuch terms that the technical problem, even if not expressly stated as such,and its solution can be understood, and state any advantageous effects of theinvention with reference to the background art;  

(d)briefly describe the figures in thedrawings, if any;

(e)describe in detail at least one way ofcarrying out the invention claimed, using examples where appropriate andreferring to the drawings, if any;

(f)indicate explicitly, when it is notobvious from the description or nature of the invention, the way in which theinvention is industrially applicable.

(2)The description shall be presented in themanner and order specified in paragraph 1, unless, owing to thenature of the invention, a different presentation would afford a betterunderstanding or be more concise.

第43条权利要求书的形式和内容

(1)权利要求书应当根据发明的技术特征限定寻求保护的客体；在合适的情况下，权利要求应当包含：

(a)指示发明客体的指定以及限定所要保护的客体的必要技术特征但结合构成现有技术部分的声明；

(b)特征部分，以表达“其特征在于”或“其特征是”开始并指定技术特征，针对该技术特征，与根据子条款(a)陈述的特征结合来寻求保护；

(2)不违背公约第82条，欧洲专利申请仅在申请的客体包含下述之一的情况下，包含属于相同类别（产品、方法、装置或用途）的多于一个独立权利要求：

(a)多个相互关联的产品；

(b)产品或装置的不同用途；

(c)针对特定技术问题的备选技术方案，其中不适合通过单个权利要求覆盖这些备选技术方案。

(3)任何陈述发明的必要技术特征的权利要求可以跟随有关于本发明的特定实施例的一个或多个权利要求。

(4)任何包含其他任何权利要求的所有特征的权利要求（从属权利要求），应当（如果可能的话）包括在开始处对其他权利要求的引用并随后陈述附加技术特征。从属权利要求直接引用其他从属权利要求应当也可接受。引用单个在前权利要求的所有从属权利要求以及引用多个在前权利要求的所有从属权利要求应当在某种程度上并以最可能的合适方式构成一组。

(5)权利要求的数量相对于所要保护的发明的性质应当合理。权利要求应当以阿拉伯数字连续编码。

(6)除非绝对必要，权利要求不应当依赖于对说明书或附图的参考以指定发明的技术特征。特别地，权利要求书不应当包含例如“如说明书……部分所述”或“如附图中图……所示”的表述。

(7)在欧洲专利申请包含具有附图标记的附图的情况下，如果能够增加权利要求的易读性，权利要求中指定的技术特征应当最好跟随有关于这些特征的附图标记，附图标记放在括号中。附图标记不应当解释为对权利要求的限制。

R. 43 Form and content of claims

(1)The claims shall define the matter for which protection is soughtin terms of the technical features of the invention. Wherever appropriate,claims shall contain:

(a)a statement indicating the designationof the subject-matter of the invention and those technical features which arenecessary for the definition of the claimed subject-matter but which, incombination, form part of the prior art;

(b)a characterising portion, beginning withthe expression "characterised in that" or "characterisedby" and specifying the technical features for which, in combination withthe features stated under sub-paragraph (a), protection issought.

(2)Without prejudice to Article 82, a European patentapplication may contain more than one independent claim in the same category(product, process, apparatus or use) only if the subject-matter of theapplication involves one of the following:

(a)a plurality of interrelatedproducts,

(b)different uses of a product orapparatus,

(c)alternative solutions to a particularproblem, where it is inappropriate to cover these alternatives by a singleclaim.

(3)Any claim stating the essential featuresof an invention may be followed by one or more claims concerning particularembodiments of that invention.

(4)Any claim which includes all the featuresof any other claim (dependent claim) shall contain, if possible at thebeginning, a reference to the other claim and then state the additional features.A dependent claim directly referring to another dependent claim shall also beadmissible. All dependent claims referring back to a single previous claim, andall dependent claims referring back to several previous claims, shall begrouped together to the extent and in the most appropriate way possible.

(5)The number of claims shall be reasonablewith regard to the nature of the invention claimed. The claims shall benumbered consecutively in Arabic numerals.

(6)Except where absolutely necessary, claimsshall not rely on references to the description or drawings in specifying thetechnical features of the invention. In particular, they shall not contain suchexpressions as "as described in part ... of the description", or"as illustrated in figure ... of the drawings".

(7)Where the European patent applicationcontains drawings including reference signs, the technical features specifiedin the claims shall preferably be followed by such reference signs relating tothese features, placed in parentheses, if the intelligibility of the claim canthereby be increased. These reference signs shall not be construed as limitingthe claim.

第44条发明的单一性

(1)在欧洲专利申请要求保护一组发明的情况下，仅在这些发明之间存在包含一个或多个相同或对应特定技术特征的技术联系时，才满足根据公约第82条的发明单一性的要求。术语“特定技术特征”应当表示限定了所要求保护的发明的每一者作为整体相对于现有技术做出贡献的那些特定。

(2)确定一组发明是否如此联系以形成单一总的发明构思无需考虑发明是在单独的权利要求中要求保护，还是在单个权利要求中作为替代方案要求保护。

R. 44 Unity of invention

(1)Where a group of inventions is claimed in a European patentapplication, the requirement of unity of invention under Article 82 shall be fulfilledonly when there is a technical relationship among those inventions involvingone or more of the same or corresponding special technical features. Theexpression "special technical features" shall mean those featureswhich define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions considered asa whole makes over the prior art.

(2)The determination whether a group ofinventions is so linked as to form a single general inventive concept shall bemade without regard to whether the inventions are claimed in separate claims oras alternatives within a single claim.

第45条权利要求发生的费用

(1)包括多于十五个权利要求的任何欧洲专利申请，关于第十六个以及随后的每个权利要求，根据费用条例的规定发生权利要求的费用。

(2)权利要求费用应当在递交第一组权利要求的一个月内缴纳。如果权利要求费用未按期缴纳，费用还可以在收到关于未遵守期限通知起一个月内缴纳。

(3)如果权利要求费用未按期缴纳，有关的权利要求应当视为放弃。

R. 45 Claims incurring fees

(1)Any European patent applicationcomprising more than fifteen claims shall, in respect of the sixteenth and eachsubsequent claim, incur payment of claims fees as laid down in the Rules relating to Fees.

(2)The claims fees shall be paid within onemonth of filing the first set of claims. If the claims fees have not been paidin due time, they may still be paid within one month of a communicationconcerning the failure to observe the time limit.

(3)If a claims fee is not paid in due time,the claim concerned shall be deemed to be abandoned.

第46条附图的形式

(1)在包含附图的页面上，可用的表面区域不应当超过655px x 425px。可用或已用的表面不应当具有边框。最小的边距应当如下：

上62.5px

左侧2.5 cm

右侧1.5 cm

下25px

(2)附图应当按照如下格式制作：

(a)附图应以耐用、黑色、足够密集和黑暗、一致粗细和界限清楚的线条和笔画来制作，而不能使用彩色。

(b)截面图应当使用阴影指示，阴影不应当影响附图标记和引导线的清晰阅读。

(c)附图的大小及其绘图制作，应当使得在该图线性缩小到三分之二时，电子复制或拍摄复制能够容易区分所有细节。如果，例外地，在附图上给出图例，其应当通过图形表示。

(d)附图上显示的所有数字、字母以及附图标记应当简单、清晰。括号、圆或引号不得与数字或字母关联使用。

(e)通常，附图中所有直线应当借助绘图工具绘制。

(f)同一幅图中的元件应当彼此成比例，除非为了附图清楚的目的，不同的比例是必不可少的。

(g)数字或字母的高度应当不低于8px。为了书写附图的字母，应当使用拉丁字母以及希腊字母（依照惯例）。

(h)附图的同一页上可以包含多幅图。在两页或多页上绘制附图以形成单个图的情况下，在若干页上的附图应当被布置使得整副图被组合而不遮盖部分附图的任何部分。不同附图应当被布置得不浪费空间，最好纵向布置，彼此明确地分离。在附图不是纵向布置的情况下，它们应当以附图的顶部位于页面的左侧而横向显示。不同附图应当以阿拉伯数字连续编码，独立于页面编码。

(i)说明书以及权利要求中未提及的附图标记不应当在附图中出现，反之亦然。技术特征的附图标记在申请文件中应当一致。、

(j)附图不应当包含文字事项。在理解附图必不可少的情况下，可以包含一些短的关键字，例如“水”、“蒸汽”、“打开”、“关闭”或“沿AB截面”等。任何关键字应当以如下方式放置：如果需要的话，它们可以被其翻译替换而不影响附图的直线。

(3)流程表和图应当视为附图。

R. 46 Form of the drawings

(1)On sheets containing drawings, the usable surface area shall notexceed 26.2 cm x 17 cm. The usable or used surface shall not besurrounded by frames. The minimum margins shall be as follows:

top 2.5 cm

left side 2.5 cm

right side 1.5 cm

bottom 1 cm

(2)Drawings shall be executed asfollows:

(a)Drawings shall be executed withoutcolourings in durable, black, sufficiently dense and dark, uniformly thick andwell-defined lines and strokes.

(b)Cross-sections shall be indicated byhatching which should not impede the clear reading of the reference signs andleading lines.

(c)The scale of the drawings and theirgraphical execution shall be such that electronic or photographic reproductionwith a linear reduction in size to two-thirds will allow all details to bedistinguished without difficulty. If, exceptionally, the scale is given on adrawing, it shall be represented graphically.

(d)All numbers, letters, and referencesigns appearing on the drawings shall be simple and clear. Brackets, circles orinverted commas shall not be used in association with numbers andletters.

(e)Generally, all lines in the drawingsshall be drawn with the aid of drafting instruments.

(f)Elements of the same figure shall beproportional to one another, unless a difference in proportion is indispensablefor the clarity of the figure.

(g)The height of the numbers and lettersshall not be less than 0.32 cm. For the lettering of drawings, theLatin and, where customary, the Greek alphabets shall be used.

(h)The same sheet of drawings may containseveral figures. Where figures drawn on two or more sheets are intended to forma single figure, the figures on the several sheets shall be so arranged thatthe whole figure can be assembled without concealing any part of the partialfigures. The different figures shall be arranged without wasting space,preferably in an upright position, clearly separated from one another. Wherethe figures are not arranged in an upright position, they shall be presentedsideways with the top of the figures at the left side of the sheet. Thedifferent figures shall be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals,independently of the numbering of the sheets.

(i)Reference signs not mentioned in thedescription and claims shall not appear in the drawings, and vice versa.Reference signs to features shall be consistent throughout theapplication.

(j)The drawings shall not contain textmatter. Where indispensable to understand the drawings, a few short keywords,such as "water", "steam", "open","closed" or "section on AB", may be included. Any suchkeywords shall be placed in such a way that, if required, they can be replacedby their translations without interfering with any lines of the drawings.

(3)Flow sheets and diagrams shall be deemedto be drawings.

第47条摘要的形式和内容

(1)摘要应当指示发明名称。

(2)摘要应当包括说明书、权利要求书以及任何附图包含的内容的简要总结。总结应当指示发明所属领域，并且应当以能够清楚理解技术问题、发明的技术问题的解决方案的要点以及发明的基本用途的方式撰写。摘要应当，在可适用的情况下，包含在申请中所包含的的化学式中最能体现本发明的化学式。不应当包含发明宣称的优点或价值或者其推测应用的描述。

(3)摘要应当优选不超过150个字。

(4)如果欧洲专利申请包括附图，申请人应当指示应当与摘要一起公布的一幅附图或多幅附图（例外地）。如果欧洲专利局认为一幅或多个其他附图更能体现本发明，其可以决定公布一幅或多个其他附图。在摘要提及并且在附图中示出的每个必要技术特征应当跟随有附图标记，附图标记放置在括号中。

(5)摘要应当以为了在特定技术领域中检索而构成有效的工具的方式撰写。特别地，其应当使得评价欧洲专利申请本身的参考是否必要成为可能。

R. 47 Form and content of the abstract

(1)The abstract shall indicate the title of the invention.

(2)The abstract shall contain a concisesummary of the disclosure as contained in the description, the claims and anydrawings. The summary shall indicate the technical field to which the inventionpertains, and shall be drafted in a manner allowing the clear understanding ofthe technical problem, the gist of the solution of that problem through theinvention, and the principal use or uses of the invention. The abstract shall,where applicable, contain the chemical formula which, among those contained inthe application, best characterises the invention. It shall not containstatements on the alleged merits or value of the invention or on speculativeapplications thereof.  

(3)The abstract shall preferably not containmore than one hundred and fifty words.

(4)If the European patent applicationcontains drawings, the applicant shall indicate the figure or, exceptionally,the figures of the drawings which should be published with the abstract. TheEuropean Patent Office may decide to publish one or more other figures if itconsiders that they better characterise the invention. Each essential featurementioned in the abstract and illustrated by a drawing shall be followed by areference sign placed in parentheses.

(5)The abstract shall be drafted in such amanner as to constitute an efficient instrument for the purpose of searching inthe particular technical field. In particular, it shall make it possible toassess whether consultation of the European patent application itself isnecessary.

第48条禁止的事项

(1)欧洲专利申请不应当包含：

(a)不符合公序良俗的陈述或其他事项；

(b)贬低任何第三方产品或方法或该第三方专利或专利申请的有效性或优点的陈述。仅仅与现有技术的比较本质上不应当视为贬低；

(c)在该状况下明显不相关或不必要的任何陈述或其他事项。

(2)如果申请包含了根据第1(a)款禁止的事项，欧洲专利局可以在公开时从申请中略去这些事项，指示略去的词或图的位置和数量。

(3)如果申请包含了第1(b)款所指的陈述，欧洲专利局可以在公开时从申请中略去它们，指示略去的词的位置和数量。根据请求，欧洲专利局应当提供略去的段落的副本。

R. 48 Prohibited matter

(1)The European patent application shall not contain:

(a)statements or other matter contrary to"ordre public" or morality;

(b)statements disparaging the products orprocesses of any third party or the merits or validity of the applications orpatents of any such party. Mere comparisons with the prior art shall not beconsidered disparaging per se;

(c)any statement or other matter obviouslyirrelevant or unnecessary under the circumstances.

(2)If the application contains matterprohibited under paragraph 1(a), the European PatentOffice may omit such matter from the application as published, indicating theplace and number of words or drawings omitted.

(3)If the application contains statementsreferred to in paragraph 1(b), the European PatentOffice may omit them from the application as published, indicating the placeand number of words omitted. Upon request, the European Patent Office shallfurnish a copy of the passages omitted.

第49条关于申请文件样式的一般规定

(1)根据公约第14条第2款或细则第40条第3款递交的任何翻译应当视为构成欧洲专利申请的文件。

(2)构成专利申请的文件应当出版以不限副本数量地允许电子复制和直接复制，特别是通过扫描、拍摄、静电处理、影印以及微缩摄影。所有页面应当无开裂、起皱、以及折叠。页面应当仅使用单面。

(3)构成申请的文件应当在A4纸上（29.7 cm x 21 cm），其应当柔韧、结实、洁白、光滑、亚光并且耐用。根据第9款以及第46条第2(h)款，每个页面应当以其短边在上方和下方（纵向）的方式被使用。

(4)构成申请的文件的每一者（请求书、说明书、权利要求、附图以及摘要）应当在新页面上开始。页面应当以能够容易翻页、分离和再次结合的方式连接。

(5)根据第46条第1款，最小边距应当如下：

上    2 cm

左侧  2.5 cm

右侧  2 cm

下   2 cm

针对上述引用边距的最大推荐值如下：

上    4 cm

左侧  4 cm

右侧  3 cm

下   3 cm

(6)申请中包含的所有页面应当以阿拉伯数字连续编码。这些页码应当在页面上方居中，但不放置在上边距中。

(7)说明书和权利要求书的每一页的行应当优选地以五行为组编码在左侧显示，至右边距。

(8)欧洲专利授权请求书、说明书、权利要求书和摘要应当打字或印刷。在必要时，仅图形符号和字符和化学或数据公司可以手动绘制或书写。打字应当1.5倍间距。所有文字事项应当是字符，字符的大写字母不低于5.25px高，并且应当是黑暗、不褪的颜色。

(9)欧洲专利授权请求书、说明书、权利要求书和摘要应当不包含附图。说明书、权利要求书和摘要可以包含化学或数据公式。说明书和摘要可以包括表格。权利要求书仅在其主题使得使用表格是令人满意的情况下可以包括表格。如果表格和化学或数学公式不能以纵向位置满意地被展示，可以在页面上横向放置。横向放置的表格或化学或数学公式应当被放置以使得表格或公式的顶部在页面的左手侧。

(10)数值应当以符合国际标准的单位表达，合适的情况下，根据使用SI单位的度量系统。不符合该求的任何数据也应当用符合国际标准的单位表达。应当使用仅本领域中通常接受的技术术语、公式、标记和符号。

(11)术语和标记在欧洲专利申请中一致。

(12)每个页面应当合理地避免擦除，并且应当无法更改。如果内容的真实性不被怀疑，并且也不因此影响完美复制的要求，可以授权与该规则不一致。

R. 49 General provisions governing the presentation of theapplication documents

(1)Any translation filed under Article 14, paragraph 2, or Rule 40, paragraph 3, shall bedeemed to be a document making up the European patent application.

(2)The documents making up the applicationshall be presented so as to allow electronic and direct reproduction, inparticular by scanning, photography, electrostatic processes, photo offset andmicrofilming, in an unlimited number of copies. All sheets shall be free fromcracks, creases and folds. Only one side of the sheet shall be used.

(3)The documentsmaking up the application shall be on A4 paper (29.7 cm x21 cm) which shall be pliable, strong, white, smooth, matt and durable.Subject to paragraph 9 and Rule 46, paragraph 2(h), eachsheet shall be used with its short sides at the top and bottom (uprightposition).

(4)Each of the documents making up theapplication (request, description, claims, drawings and abstract) shallcommence on a new sheet. The sheets shall be connected in such a way that theycan easily be turned over, separated and joined together again.

(5)Subject to Rule 46, paragraph 1, the minimummargins shall be as follows:

top 2 cm

left side 2.5 cm

right side 2 cm

bottom 2 cm

The recommended maximum for the margins quoted above is asfollows:

top 4 cm

left side 4 cm

right side 3 cm

bottom 3 cm

(6)All the sheets contained in theapplication shall be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals. These shall becentred at the top of the sheet, but not placed in the top margin.

(7)The lines of each sheet of the descriptionand of the claims shall preferably be numbered in sets of five, the numbersappearing on the left side, to the right of the margin.

(8)The request forgrant of a European patent, the description, the claims and the abstract shallbe typed or printed. Only graphic symbols and characters and chemical ormathematical formulae may, if necessary, be drawn or written by hand. Thetyping shall be 1½ spaced. All text matter shall be in characters, thecapital letters of which are not less than 0.21 cm high, and shall be in adark, indelible colour.

(9)The request for grant of a Europeanpatent, the description, the claims and the abstract shall not containdrawings. The description, claims and abstract may contain chemical ormathematical formulae. The description and abstract may contain tables. Theclaims may contain tables only if their subject-matter makes the use of tablesdesirable. Tables and chemical or mathematical formulae may be placed sidewayson the sheet if they cannot be presented satisfactorily in an upright position.Tables or chemical or mathematical formulae presented sideways shall be placedso that the tops of the tables or formulae are at the left-hand side of thesheet.

(10)Values shallbe expressed in units conforming to international standards, whereverappropriate in terms of the metric system using SI units. Any data not meetingthis requirement shall also be expressed in units conforming to internationalstandards. Only the technical terms, formulae, signs and symbols generallyaccepted in the field in question shall be used.

(11)The terminology and the signs shall beconsistent throughout the European patent application.

(12)Each sheet shall be reasonably free fromerasures and shall be free from alterations. Non-compliance with this rule maybe authorised if the authenticity of the content is not impugned and therequirements for good reproduction are not thereby jeopardised.

第50条后续递交的文件

(1)第42条、第43条以及第46条-第49条应当适用于替换构成欧洲专利申请文件的文件。第49条第2款-第12款应当适用于第71条中所指的权利要求的翻译。

(2)除了那些构成申请文件之外的所有文件通常应当打字或印刷。在每页的左手侧应当具有大约62.5px的边距。

(3)在递交申请之后递交的文件应当签名，除了附件之外。如果文件没有签名，欧洲专利局应当要求当事人在指定时限内签名。如果按期签名，文件应当保留其接收的原始日期；否则文件应当视为未递交。

R. 50 Documents filed subsequently

(1)Rules 42, 43 and 46 to 49 shall apply to documents replacingdocuments making up the European patent application. Rule 49, paragraphs 2 to 12, shall also apply to the translation ofthe claims referred to in Rule 71.

(2)All documents other than those making upthe application shall generally be typewritten or printed. There shall be amargin of about 2.5 cm on the left-hand side of each page.

(3)Documents filed after filing theapplication shall be signed, with the exception of annexed documents. If adocument has not been signed, the European Patent Office shall invite the partyconcerned to do so within a time limit to be specified. If signed in due time,the document shall retain its original date of receipt; otherwise it shall bedeemed not to have been filed.

第三章维持费

Chapter III Renewal fees

第51条维持费的缴纳

(1)关于下一年欧洲专利申请的维持费应当在包含欧洲专利申请年度期满日的月份的最后一天期满。在期满前三个月之前不可以缴纳维持费。

(2)如果维持费未按期缴纳，在期满日起六个月内仍然可以缴纳维持费，但还需要在该期限内缴纳滞纳金。

(3)在分案申请递交日，关于在先申请已经期满的维持费也应当针对该分案申请缴纳，并且在递交时期满。这些费用以及在递交分案申请的四个月内期满的任何费用可以在该期限内缴纳而无需缴纳滞纳金。第2款应当适用。

(4)如果欧洲专利申请由于未遵守期限而被驳回或被视为撤回，并且如果申请人根据公约第122条恢复了权利，

(a)从丧失权利发生之日起直至和包含恢复权利决定通知之日的期间内，根据第1款已经期满的维持费应当在后一日期期满。

该费用和自后一日期起四个月内期满的任何维持费仍然可以在后一日期起四个月内缴纳而无需缴纳滞纳金。第2款应当适用。

(b)在丧失权利发生之日已经期满但在第2款中的期间尚未期满的维持费，可以在恢复权利决定通知之日起六个月内缴纳，但还需要在该期间内根据第2款缴纳滞纳金。

(5)如果扩大的申诉委员会根据公约第112a款第5条第2句重启申诉委员会的程序，

(a)自申诉委员会决定受理复审请求之日起直至和包括扩大的申诉委员会重启申诉委员会的程序的决定通知之日期间已经期满的维持费，应当在后一日期期满。

该费用和自后一日期起四个月内期满的任何维持费仍然可以在后一日期起四个月内缴纳而无需缴纳滞纳金。第2款应当适用。

(b)在申诉委员会决定受理之日已经期满但在第2款中的期间尚未期满的维持费，可以在扩大的申诉委员会重启申诉委员会的程序的决定通知之日起六个月内缴纳，但还需要在该期间内根据第2款缴纳滞纳金。

(6)根据公约第61条第1(b)款递交的新欧洲专利申请不应当缴纳关于其递交当年以及之前年度的维持费。

R. 51 Payment of renewal fees

(1) A renewal fee for the European patentapplication in respect of the coming year shall be due on the last day of themonth containing the anniversary of the date of filing of the European patentapplication. Renewal fees may not be validly paid more than threemonths before they fall due.

(2)If a renewal fee is not paid in due time,the fee may still be paid within six months of the due date, provided that anadditional fee is also paid within that period.

(3)Renewal fees already due in respect of an earlier application atthe date on which a divisional application is filed shall also be paid for thedivisional application and shall be due on its filing. These fees and any renewalfee due within four months of filing the divisional application may be paidwithin that period without an additional fee. Paragraph 2 shall apply.

(4)If a European patent application has beenrefused or deemed to be withdrawn as a result of non-observance of a timelimit, and if the applicant's rights are re-established under Article 122, a renewal fee

(a)which would have fallen due under paragraph 1 in the periodstarting on the date on which the loss of rights occurred, up to and includingthe date of the notification of the decision re-establishing the rights, shallbe due on that latter date.

This fee and any renewal fee due within four months from that latterdate may still be paid within four months of that latter date without anadditional fee. Paragraph 2 shall apply.

(b)which, on the date on which the loss of rights has occurred, wasalready due but the period provided for in paragraph 2 has not yet expired,may still be paid within six months from the date of the notification of thedecision re-establishing the rights, provided that the additional fee pursuanttoparagraph 2 is also paid withinthat period.

(5)If the Enlarged Board of Appeal re-opens proceedings before theBoard of Appeal underArticle 112a, paragraph 5, secondsentence, a renewal fee

(a)which would have fallen due under paragraph 1 in the periodstarting on the date when the decision of the Board of Appeal subject to thepetition for review was taken, up to and including the date of the notificationof the decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal re-opening proceedings beforethe Board of Appeal, shall be due on that latter date.

This fee and any renewal fee due within four months from that latterdate may still be paid within four months of that latter date without anadditional fee. Paragraph 2 shall apply.

(b)which, on the day on which the decision of the Board of Appealwas taken, was already due but the period provided for in paragraph 2 has not yet expired,may still be paid within six months from the date of the notification of thedecision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal re-opening proceedings before theBoard of Appeal, provided that the additional fee pursuant to paragraph 2 is also paid withinthat period.

(6)A renewal fee shall not be payable for a new European patentapplication filed underArticle 61, paragraph 1(b), inrespect of the year in which it was filed and any preceding year.

第四章优先权

第52条优先权声明

(1)公约第88条第1款所指的优先权声明应当指明在先申请的日期、在先申请作出所在或针对的巴黎公约的成员或世界贸易组织的成员以及申请号。在公约第87条第5款所指的情况下，应当准用第一句。

(2)应当在递交欧洲专利申请时作出优先权声明。优先权声明还可以在要求的最早的优先权日起十六个月内作出。

(3)申请人可以在要求的最早优先权日起十六个月内更正优先权声明，或者在更正将使得要求的最早的优先权日改变的情况下，在更正的最早的优先权日起十六个月内更正优先权声明，以先期满的十六个月期间为准，但是更正应当在根据欧洲专利申请的申请日起四个月期满前递交。

(4)但是，在根据公约第93条第1(b)款的请求已经递交之后，不得作出或更正优先权声明。

(5)优先权声明的事项应当在公布的欧洲专利申请和欧洲专利说明书上显示。

R. 52 Declaration of priority

(1)The declaration of priority referred to in Article 88, paragraph 1, shallindicate the date of the previous filing, the State party to the ParisConvention or Member of the World Trade Organization in or for which it wasmade and the file number. In the case referred to in Article 87, paragraph 5, thefirst sentence shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(2)The declaration of priority shall preferably be made on filingthe European patent application. It may still be made within sixteen monthsfrom the earliest priority date claimed.

(3)The applicant may correct the declaration of priority withinsixteen months from the earliest priority date claimed, or, where thecorrection would cause a change in the earliest priority date claimed, withinsixteen months from the corrected earliest priority date, whicheversixteen-month period expires first, provided that such a correction may besubmitted until the expiry of four months from the date of filing accorded tothe European patent application.

(4)However, a declaration of priority may not be made or correctedafter a request underArticle 93, paragraph 1(b), hasbeen filed.

(5)The particulars of the declaration of priority shall appear inthe published European patent application and the European patentspecification.

第53条优先权文件

(1)要求优先权的申请人应当在要求的最早优先权日起十六个月内递交在先申请的副本。该在先申请的副本和申请日应当由该申请递交的机关认证为正确。

(2)如果在欧洲专利局局长确定的条件下，可获得的在先申请的副本将被包含在欧洲专利申请的文件中，在先申请的副本应当被视为正式递交。

(3)在先申请未使用欧洲专利局的官方语言并且优先权要求的有效性与确定所涉发明的可专利性有关的情况下，欧洲专利局应当要求欧洲专利申请人或所有权人在指定期间内递交该申请的一种官方语言翻译。可选地，可以提交欧洲专利申请是在先申请的完整翻译的声明。应当准用第2款。如果未按期递交所要求的在先申请的翻译，应当不享有与该在先申请有关的欧洲专利申请或欧洲专利的优先权。应当相应地通知欧洲专利的申请人或所有权人。

R. 53 Priority documents

(1)An applicant claiming priority shall file a copy of the previousapplication within sixteen months of the earliest priority date claimed. Thiscopy and the date of filing of the previous application shall be certified ascorrect by the authority with which that application was filed.

(2)The copy of the previous application shall be deemed to be dulyfiled if a copy of that application available to the European Patent Office isto be included in the file of the European patent application under theconditions determined by the President of the European Patent Office.

(3)Where the previous application is not in an official language ofthe European Patent Office and the validity of the priority claim is relevantto the determination of the patentability of the invention concerned, theEuropean Patent Office shall invite the applicant for or proprietor of theEuropean patent to file a translation of that application into one of theofficial languages within a period to be specified. Alternatively, adeclaration may be submitted that the European patent application is a completetranslation of the previous application. Paragraph 2 shall apply mutatismutandis. If a requested translation of a previous application is not filed indue time, the right of priority for the European patent application or for theEuropean patent with respect to that application shall be lost. The applicantfor or proprietor of the European patent shall be informed accordingly.

第54条优先权文件的颁布

在欧洲专利局局长确定的条件下（包括优先权文件的样式以及应当缴纳管理费的状况），欧洲专利局应当根据请求向申请人颁发认证的欧洲专利申请（优先权文件）副本。

R. 54 Issuing priority documents

On request, the European Patent Office shall issue to the applicanta certified copy of the European patent application (priority document), underthe conditions determined by the President of the European Patent Office,including the form of the priority document and the circumstances under whichan administrative fee shall be paid.

第四部分公约第四部分的实施细则

Part IV Implementing Regulations to part IV of the Convention

第一章受理处的审查

Chapter I Examination by the Receiving Section

第55条递交时的审查

如果根据公约第90条第1款的审查，发现申请不符合第40条第1(a)或(c)款、第2款或第3款第一句规定的要求，欧洲专利局应当向申请人通知任何缺陷并且建议他在两个月内补正该缺陷，否则该申请将不被作为欧洲专利申请处理。如果申请人补正了缺陷，应当向他通知专利局给予的申请日。

R. 55 Examination on filing

If the examination under Article 90, paragraph 1, revealsthat the application fails to meet the requirements laid down in Rule 40, paragraph 1(a) or (c), paragraph 2 or paragraph 3, first sentence, theEuropean Patent Office shall inform the applicant of any deficiencies andadvise him that the application will not be dealt with as a European patentapplication unless such deficiencies are remedied within two months. If theapplicant does this, he shall be informed of the date of filing accorded by theOffice.

第56条遗漏说明书的部分或者遗漏附图

(1)如果根据公约第90条第1款的审查，发现说明书的部分或者说明书或权利要求书中提及的附图似乎遗漏，欧洲专利局应当要求申请人在两个月内提交遗漏部分。申请人不可以援引该通知中的遗漏。

(2)如果遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图在申请日之后递交，但在申请日起两个月内，或者在根据第1款发出的通知的情况下，在该通知起两个月内，申请应当重新确定日期为遗漏的说明书部分或者遗漏的附图递交之日。欧洲专利局应当相应地通知申请人。

(3)如果遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图在根据第2款的期间内递交，并且申请要求了在先申请的优先权，在遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图完全包含在在先申请中的情况下，申请日应当保留满足第40条第1款中规定的要求的日期，其中申请人在第2款的期间内请求并递交：

(a)在先申请的副本，除非该副本根据第53条第2款对于欧洲专利局可获得；

(b)在先申请不使用欧洲专利局的官方语言的情况下，一种官方语言的翻译，除非该副本根据第53条第2款对于欧洲专利局可获得；以及

(c)关于遗漏的说明书部分和遗漏的附图完全包含在在先申请哪个地方（可适用的情况下，其翻译）中的指示。

(4)如果申请人：

(a)没有在第1或2款的期间内递交遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图，或

(b)根据第6款撤回根据第2款递交的任何遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图，

第1款中所指的任何参考应当视为被删除，并且应当视为未递交任何遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图。欧洲专利局应当相应地通知申请人。

(5)如果申请人未在第2款的期间内满足第3(a)-(c)款所指的要求，申请应当重新确定日期为遗漏的说明书部分或者遗漏的附图递交之日。欧洲专利局应当相应地通知申请人。

(6)在第2款或第5款最后一句所指通知的一个月内，申请人可以撤回递交的遗漏的说明书部分或遗漏的附图，在该情况下，应当视为未作出重新确定日期。欧洲专利局应当相应地通知申请人。

R. 56 Missing parts of the description or missing drawings

(1)If the examination under Article 90, paragraph 1, revealsthat parts of the description, or drawings referred to in the description or inthe claims, appear to be missing, the European Patent Office shall invite theapplicant to file the missing parts within two months. The applicant may notinvoke the omission of such a communication.

(2)If missing parts of the description or missing drawings are filedlater than the date of filing, but within two months of the date of filing or,if a communication is issued under paragraph 1, within two months of thatcommunication, the application shall be re-dated to the date on which themissing parts of the description or missing drawings were filed. The EuropeanPatent Office shall inform the applicant accordingly.

(3)If the missing parts of the description or missing drawings arefiled within the period underparagraph 2, and the applicationclaims priority of an earlier application, the date of filing shall, providedthat the missing parts of the description or the missing drawings arecompletely contained in the earlier application, remain the date on which therequirements laid down in Rule 40, paragraph 1, werefulfilled, where the applicant so requests and files, within the periodunder paragraph 2:

(a)a copy of the earlier application, unless such copy is availableto the European Patent Office under Rule 53, paragraph 2;

(b)where the earlier application is not in an official language ofthe European Patent Office, a translation thereof in one of these languages,unless such copy is available to the European Patent Office under Rule 53, paragraph 3; and

(c)an indication as to where the missing parts of the description orthe missing drawings are completely contained in the earlier application and,where applicable, in the translation thereof.  

(4)If the applicant:

(a)fails to file the missing parts of the description or the missingdrawings within the period under paragraph 1 or 2, or  

(b)withdraws under paragraph 6 any missing part ofthe description or missing drawing filed under paragraph 2,

any references referred to in paragraph 1 shall be deemed to bedeleted, and any filing of the missing parts of the description or missingdrawings shall be deemed not to have been made. The European Patent Officeshall inform the applicant accordingly.

(5)If the applicant fails to comply with the requirements referredto in paragraph 3(a) to (c)within the period under paragraph 2, the application shall bere-dated to the date on which the missing parts of the description or missingdrawings were filed. The European Patent Office shall inform the applicantaccordingly.

(6)Within one month of the notification referred to in paragraph 2 or 5, last sentence, the applicant maywithdraw the missing parts of the description or the missing drawings filed, inwhich case the re-dating shall be deemed not to have been made. The EuropeanPatent Office shall inform the applicant accordingly.

第57条形式要求的审查

如果欧洲专利申请已经被给予申请日，欧洲专利局应当根据公约第90条第3款审查：

(a)根据公约第14条第2款、细则第36条第2款第2局或第40条第3款第2句要求的申请的翻译是否已经按期递交；

(b)授予欧洲专利的请求是否符合第41条的要求；

(c)申请是否根据公约第78条第1(c)款包含一个或多个权利要求，或者是否根据第40条第1(c)、2以及3款包含对在先递交申请的引用，指示其还替换了权利要求；

(d)申请是否根据公约第78条第1(e)款包含摘要；

(e)是否根据第17条第2款、第36条第3款或第38条缴纳了申请费以及检索费；

(f)是否根据第19条第1款做出了发明人的指定；

(g)在合适的情况下，是否满足第52和53条规定的关于要求优先权的条件；

(h)在合适的情况下，是否满足公约第133条第2款的要求；

(i)申请是否满足第46条以及第49条第1-9以及12款规定的要求；

(j)申请是否满足第30条规定的要求。

R. 57 Examination as to formal requirements

If the European patent application has been accorded a date offiling, the European Patent Office shall examine, in accordance with Article 90, paragraph 3, whether:

(a) a translation of the application required under Article 14, paragraph 2,under Rule 36, paragraph 2, secondsentence, or under Rule 40, paragraph 3, secondsentence, has been filed in due time;

(b)the request for grant of a European patent satisfies therequirements of Rule 41;

(c)the application contains one or more claims in accordancewith Article 78, paragraph 1(c), or areference to a previously filed application in accordance with Rule 40, paragraphs 1(c), 2 and 3, indicating that it replaces also theclaims;

(d)the application contains an abstract in accordance with Article 78, paragraph 1(e);

(e)the filing fee and the search fee have been paid in accordancewith Rule 17, paragraph 2,Rule 36, paragraph 3, or Rule 38;

(f)the designation of the inventor has beenmade in accordance with Rule 19, paragraph 1;

(g)where appropriate, the requirements laid down in Rules 52 and 53 concerning the claim to priorityhave been satisfied;

(h)where appropriate, the requirements of Article 133, paragraph 2, havebeen satisfied;

(i)the application meets the requirements laid down in Rule 46 and Rule 49, paragraphs 1to 9 and 12;

(j) the application meets the requirements laid down in Rule 30.

第58条补正申请文件中的缺陷

如果欧洲专利申请不符合第57(a)-(d)、(h)和(i)的要求，欧洲专利局应当相应地通知申请人并要求其在两个月内改正指出的缺陷。说明书、权利要求书以及附图仅可以被修改为足以弥补该缺陷的程度。

R. 58 Correction of deficiencies in the application documents

If the European patent application does not comply with therequirements of Rule 57(a) to (d), (h) and (i), the European Patent Office shallinform the applicant accordingly and invite him to correct the deficienciesnoted within two months. The description, claims and drawings may be amendedonly to an extent sufficient to remedy such deficiencies.

第59条要求优先权的缺陷

如果根据第52条第1款的在先申请的申请号、或者根据第53条第1款的申请的副本未按期递交，欧洲专利局应当相应地通知申请人并且要求其在指定期限内递交。

R. 59 Deficiencies in claiming priority

If the file number of the previous application under Rule 52, paragraph 1, or the copyof that application under Rule 53, paragraph 1, have notbeen filed in due time, the European Patent Office shall inform the applicantaccordingly and invite him to file them within a period to be specified.

第60条发明人的后续指定

(1)如果没有根据第19条做出发明人的指定，欧洲专利局应当通知申请人，如果不在申请的申请日（要求优先权的，优先权日）起十六个月内做出指定，欧洲专利申请将被驳回，如果在欧洲专利申请公布的技术准备完成之前提交了信息，则视为遵守了该期限。

(2)在分案申请或根据公约第61条第1(b)款的新申请中，如果没有根据第19条做出发明人的指定，欧洲专利局应当要求申请人在指定期间做出指定。

R. 60 Subsequent designation of the inventor

(1)If the designation of the inventor has not been made inaccordance with Rule 19, the European Patent Officeshall inform the applicant that the European patent application will be refusedunless the designation is made within sixteen months of the date of filing ofthe application or, if priority is claimed, of the date of priority, thisperiod being deemed to have been observed if the information is communicatedbefore completion of the technical preparations for the publication of theEuropean patent application.

(2)Where, in a divisional application or a new applicationunder Article 61, paragraph 1(b), thedesignation of the inventor has not been made in accordance with Rule 19, the European Patent Officeshall invite the applicant to make the designation within a period to bespecified.

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