EPAC key terms

The date accorded under the applicable filing requirements, distinguished from priority, publication, grant and the date of a later office communication.

A request to rely on an earlier filing under the applicable conditions, which does not automatically establish valid priority for every claimed feature.

A request for patent protection under the relevant procedure, distinguished from a granted and enforceable right with particular territorial effects.

A patent granted through the EPC procedure, whose subsequent effects and maintenance require the relevant territorial and post-grant framework.

An international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, which facilitates a procedure without itself creating one worldwide granted patent.

The office competent to receive an international application under the relevant requirements, distinguished from every later search, examination or regional-phase function.

The phase in which an international application proceeds before a regional office under the applicable entry requirements and subsequent procedure.

A statement defining the subject matter for which protection is sought, interpreted within the governing legal framework and relevant application documents.

The requirement that the relevant claimed subject matter is not disclosed by the applicable prior art under the governing novelty test.

The requirement that the claimed invention is not obvious under the applicable legal assessment, distinct from merely being new.

Content introduced by amendment beyond what the governing disclosure standard permits from the application as filed, even where a claim becomes narrower.

The requirement for disclosure enabling the skilled person to carry out the invention under the applicable standard, distinguished from claim clarity alone.

A legally defined post-grant challenge before the relevant patent office with its own grounds, admissibility requirements, deadlines and possible outcomes.

Review of an appealable decision through the applicable appeal procedure, distinguished from an unrestricted opportunity to repeat every earlier submission.

A procedural remedy available for certain missed time limits under defined conditions, rather than a universal cure for all omissions.

A remedy for qualifying failures under its actual requirements, including the applicable time limits and standard of care where relevant.

A narrowly defined review of an appeal decision on specified grounds, distinguished from a general further appeal on substantive disagreement.

A fee maintaining the relevant application or right under its applicable stage and territory, with a due date distinct from an administrative payment reminder.

A particular post-grant effect available under its relevant framework and conditions, distinguished from assuming every European patent automatically has it.

An auditable record connecting a procedural obligation, triggering event, deadline and completed action, rather than a calendar entry without supporting evidence.