Art. 14 - Languages of the European Patent Office, European patent applications and other documents

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Article 14 Languages of the European Patent Office, European patent applications and other documents						Guidelines

(1) The official languages of the European Patent Office shall be English, French and German.					- G 4/08	A VII 1.1 E VIII 4.3

(2) A European patent application shall be filed in one of the official languages or, if filed in any other language, translated into one of the official languages in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Throughout the proceedings before the European Patent Office, such translation may be brought into conformity with the application as filed. If a required translation is not filed in due time, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.					- R6(1) - CBA III.F.1 - CBA III.F.2	A III 16.2 A VII 1.1 A VII 6.2 A X 9.2.1

(3) The official language of the European Patent Office in which the European patent application is filed or into which it is translated shall be used as the language of the proceedings in all proceedings before the European Patent Office, unless the Implementing Regulations provide otherwise.					- R. 3(1) - G 4/08 - CBA III.F.3	A VII 1.2 A VII 2. B X 3.2

(4) Natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business within a Contracting State having a language other than English, French or German as an official language, and nationals of that State who are resident abroad, may file documents which have to be filed within a time limit in an official language of that State. They shall, however, file a translation in an official language of the European Patent Office in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. If any document, other than those documents making up the European patent application, is not filed in the prescribed language, or if any required translation is not filed in due time, the document shall be deemed not to have been filed.					- R6(2) - R. 139 - CBA III.F.5	A VI 2.6 A VII 2. A VII 4.2 A VII 4.2 A VIII 2.5 A X 9.2.1 A X 9.2.3 A X 9.2.4 A X 9.2.5 A X 9.2.6 A X 9.2.7 D IV 1.3

(5) European patent applications shall be published in the language of the proceedings.

(6) Specifications of European patents shall be published in the language of the proceedings and shall include a translation of the claims in the other two official languages of the European Patent Office.						C V 10.

(7) The following shall be published in the three official languages of the European Patent Office:

a) the European Patent Bulletin ;						B X 7.

b) the Official Journal of the European Patent Office.

(8) Entries in the European Patent Register shall be made in the three official languages of the European Patent Office. In cases of doubt, the entry in the language of the proceedings shall be authentic.



Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

Related provisions		Case Law
Articles	Rules	EBoA	BoA	Search
Art. 70 Art. 80 Art. 90 Art. 93 Art. 97 Art. 98 Art. 103 Art. 127 Art. 129	R. 3 R. 4 R. 5 R. 6 R. 7 R. 36 R. 40 R. 49 R. 61 R. 68 R. 112 R. 139	G 4/08 G 3/98 G 2/95 G 6/91	CBA III.F	BoA decisions