EPO Online Services

Author Date
 Agenda

• Introduction

• EPO Online Services

• Statistics

• Newsletter

Agenda 4 Overview 30/11/2009

 Background

• Started in January 1999

• 10 years' experience in developing secure online services for the IP

community

• Initial priorities have now all been realised and implemented as reliable
products and services

Introduction 4 Background 30/11/2009

 Benefits

• Transparency
– gives easy access to information during the patent granting
procedure

– makes the EPO’s systems face outwards

– provides public and secure access via the Internet

• Re-engineering of IP business transactions

– simplifies procedures

– reduces clerical work

Introduction 4 Benefits 30/11/2009

 Access
a) Direct access:
– users can view/download public information

b) Username and password access:

– users can view/download public and personal information

– users can remain anonymous yet benefit from a secure

environment (128-bit encryption)

c) Smart card access:

– view or download public and personal information

– authenticate yourself

– benefit from secure environment (128-bit encryption)

– sign and file online

Introduction 4 Access 30/11/2009
 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Inspecting files/
Register

Managing files

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 PatXML

• Prepare or import patent applications in XML format

using the Microsoft Word template
– no prior knowledge of XML required

• Attach documents to the Online Filing software in XML format

• Save on filing fees by using the XML format

• 'Draft once, file anywhere'

– in accordance with Trilateral Annex F Standard

EPO Online Services 4 PatXML 30/11/2009

 PatXML

EPO Online Services 4 PatXML 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Inspecting files/
Register

Managing files

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 Online Filing
• Filing patents online with the EPO:
– all European procedures (including oppositions and appeals since
March 2009)
– international procedure
– subsequently filed documents
– national plug-ins available:
DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, NL, PL, RO, SE, SK, UK
– EP plug-ins available:
DK, ES, FI, FR, PL, RO, SE, SK, UK
– PCT plug-ins available:
DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, NL, PL, RO, SE, SK, UK

• Full electronic handling of the filing

EPO Online Services 4 Online Filing 30/11/2009

 What is Online Filing?
The Online Filing software allows customers to file:

• EP 1001, 1200, 1038, Oppositions

• PCT
• PCT Safe
• National procedures
• Patents
• Subsequently filed documents
• EP / PCT Translations
• Utility models
• etc

online with the EPO or one of the national patent offices of the EPC
contracting states.

Online Filing 4 What is Online Filing? 30/11/2009

 OLF - Benefits

For customers:

• EUR 75 fee reduction for EP1001, EP1200

• instant receipt with application number and date and time of filing
• immediate check for completeness and correctness using internal business
logic
• increased security over paper/fax filings
• increased efficiency through task distribution (more people can work on the
same application)
• import and export of applicant's own patent management system data

For receiving offices:

• direct interface with backend systems

• reduced work for formalities officers
• possible online data transfer with EPO

30/11/2009
OLF - 28 national procedures in production

30/11/2009
OLF - coming soon...

• Spain - EP translations, SFD

• Sweden - EP translations, SFD

• Denmark - SFD

• Poland - SFD

• Iceland - EP, PCT

• Slovenia - EP, PCT

30/11/2009
OLF - next implementation projects

• Bulgaria - EP, PCT, NP

• Portugal - EP, PCT

• Norway - EP, PCT

30/11/2009
 OLF History

• December 2000
– EP 1001

• January 2003:
– EP 1200
– PCT RO101

• 2005 onwards:
– EP Subsequent Filing Documents, Oppositions
– Network client installation option
– OLF development tools enabling NO to produce their own plug ins
– National patent procedures

30/11/2009
 Online Filing at EPO

• Reduced fees:

– filing fee for EP and Euro-PCT online filings: EUR 100

– filing fee for EP and Euro-PCT paper filings: EUR 180
Ø net gain of EUR 80 for every online EP filing

– filing fee for PCT online filings with PDF attachments:

down by CHF 200
– filing fee for PCT online filings with XML attachments:
down by CHF 300

EPO Online Services 4 Online Filing 30/11/2009

 Online Filing

EPO Online Services 4 Online Filing 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

Managing files

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 Register Plus

• Combines the features of four services

– Online European Patent Register
– Online Public File Inspection
– Open Patent Services
(INPADOC legal status)
– esp@cenet

• Offers more data than the Online European Patent Register

– post-grant data
– patent family data
– original files

EPO Online Services 4 Register Plus 30/11/2009

 Register Plus

• Simple and advanced search masks available

anywhere in Register Plus

• Information clearly structured in different overviews

• Bibliographical, procedural and legal status data

can be downloaded in XML

• Bookmarking option

• Links to European Publication Server

EPO Online Services 4 Register Plus 30/11/2009

 Register Plus

EPO Online Services 4 Register Plus 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

Managing files

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 WebRegMT

• Automates monitoring of up to 1 000 files at the user's end

• Provides instant e-mail notification of changes in the Register

• Allows customisation of the monitoring profile

• Helps patent attorneys and industry to keep track of their applications

• Enables companies to watch competitors more effectively

EPO Online Services 4 WebRegMT 30/11/2009

 WebRegMT

EPO Online Services 4 WebRegMT 30/11/2009

 WebRegMT

EPO Online Services 4 WebRegMT 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

Managing files

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 Online Secure File Inspection

• Access for representatives to published files in a secure environment

• Bookmarking of favourite third-party files via My Files

• Customised view of files

• Sorting option

• Link to Register Plus

EPO Online Services 4 Online Secure File Inspection 30/11/2009

 Online Secure File Inspection

EPO Online Services 4 Online Secure File Inspection 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

My Files
Mailbox
Managing files
Online Fee Payment
Administration

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 My Files

• Bookmarking service

• Allows you to manage your file portfolio

• Easy switch to Online Secure File Inspection

EPO Online Services 4 My Files 30/11/2009

 My Files

EPO Online Services 4 My Files 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

My Files
Mailbox
Managing files
Online Fee Payment
Administration

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 Mailbox

• Receive and process all incoming documents

• View the contents of mail items and download them if desired

• Store mail in special folders with search and sort functions

EPO Online Services 4 Mailbox 30/11/2009

 Mailbox

EPO Online Services 4 Mailbox 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

My Files
Mailbox
Managing files
Online Fee Payment
Administration

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 Online Fee Payment

• With Online Fee Payment you can

Ø view and print in PDF or download in XML

– deposit account overviews, including your account balance and

the total amount of fees due via the automatic debiting procedure
within the next 10, 14, 30 or 40 days

– account statements dating back to 1 January 2002

– new statements every two weeks (covering 1st to 15th and 16th to
last day of month) covering all transactions since 1 January 2002

EPO Online Services 4 Online Fee Payment 30/11/2009

 Online Fee Payment

• With Online Fee Payment you can

Ø view and print in PDF or download in XML

– all transactions since 1 January 2002

– pending orders (online debit orders not yet processed by the EPO)

– a list of the applications for which the automatic debiting procedure

has been selected

– a list of all applications for which amounts will automatically be

debited within the next 40 days

EPO Online Services 4 Online Fee Payment 30/11/2009

 Online Fee Payment

• With Online Fee Payment you can

Ø view and print in PDF or download in XML

– confirmation that your debit orders have been received (single and
batch payments)

– the schedule of fees, including equivalent fees from earlier fee

schedules

Ø pay fees in single or batch payments (via batch files created

using the Multipay Tool)

Ø issue and revoke automatic debit orders

Ø track fees paid via the Online Filing software

EPO Online Services 4 Online Fee Payment 30/11/2009

 Online Fee Payment

EPO Online Services 4 Online Fee Payment 30/11/2009

 EPO Online Services
Procedure Service

PatXML
Filing applications
Online Filing

Register Plus
Inspecting files/
WebRegMT
Register
Secure File Inspection

My Files
Mailbox
Managing files
Online Fee Payment
Administration

EPO Online Services 30/11/2009

 Administration

• Allows the company administrator to define user access to certain

My.epoline products (Online Fee Payment, Mailbox)

• The administrator
– is the first smart card user to accept the terms and conditions for
being an administrator
– grants administration rights to any other smart card holders

EPO Online Services 4 Administration 30/11/2009

 Administration

EPO Online Services 4 Administration 30/11/2009

 Statistics

Statistics 30/11/2009
 Statistics

• Online Filing
– Over 60% of all filings with the EPO are now online
(EP, Euro-PCT and PCT)

– About 8 500 active smart cards

– Average of 40 Online Filing packages sent out per week

Statistics 4 Online Filing 30/11/2009

Slide evolution

30/11/2009
 Statistics

• WebRegMT
– over 6 000 users

• PatXML
– 10% of all PCT online applications filed with PatXML attachments

• Fees paid online

– 34% of the total number of fees paid in August 2009

Statistics 4 WebRegMT, PatXML, Online Fee Payment 30/11/2009

Some statistics - Slovak PO 2008

30/11/2009
 Some statisitics - UK PO

E Filed Applications as a Percentage of Total Applications Filed

2008/09
E Filed Apps as %
of Total Apps
Filed
40,0
35,7
35,0 33,5 33,7 34,3
30,2 29,2 31,6 30,7
30,0 28,5
26,3 27,0
25,0
Percentage (%)

20,0

15,0

10,0

5,0

0,0 0,0
Apr-08 May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09

Calendar Months

30/11/2009
 Some statistics - national offices

• SWEDEN: SE Pat 38% PCT 78%

• FINLAND: FI Pat 52% FI EP 96% PCT 65%

• NETHERLANDS NL Pat 46% NL EP 51% PCT 78%

30/11/2009
 Some statistics - French PO

2009 EP1001 FRPAT SFD PCTRO101 Total

January 94 628 904 146 1775
February 90 659 938 184 1873
March 92 785 889 223 1989
April 114 869 845 255 2084
May 115 673 758 219 1765
June 132 871 851 245 2101
July 93 965 856 273 2187
August 77 498 621 102 1298
September 122 890 922 217 2151
October 58 402 456 106 1022
November 0 0 0 0 0
December 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 987 7240 8040 1970 18245

• 7% increase vs 2008

30/11/2009
 Online Services Newsletter

EPO Online Services Newsletter 30/11/2009

 Online Services Newsletter

• launched in November 2007

• includes
– the latest news
– product updates
– event information

• registration via www.epoline.org

– username/password or smart card
– "global preferences"
– "Yes I would like to receive the Online Services Newsletter"

EPO Online Services Newsletter 30/11/2009

 More information

• www.epoline.org

• EPO User Support

Open: Monday to Friday
08.00 – 18.00 hrs CET
Tel.: +31 70 3404500
Fax: +31 70 3404600
e-mail: support@epo.org

More information 30/11/2009