EPO Opens Door to Legal Practitioners in Associations of Representatives
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced significant changes to its representation rules. Legal practitioners can now join associations of representatives, previously restricted by individual authorization requirements. This move is part of the EPO's ongoing simplification and digitalisation efforts under Strategic Plan 2028.
Previously, associations could only represent applicants without explicit authorization for individual members. Now, legal practitioners, who are lawyers authorized to practice in patent matters, can join these associations on equal terms with professional representatives.
This change follows the registration of the first legal professional associations of lawyers with the EPO on October 1. These associations collaborate with the EPO and are facilitated by MyEPO, a self-service function for creating and administering associations. Over 600,000 proceedings are currently handled by such associations.
The EPO's rule change allows legal practitioners to join associations of representatives, promoting equal treatment and simplifying representation processes. This shift aligns with the EPO's strategic plan to streamline operations and embrace digitalisation.
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