An International Guide to
Patent Case Management for Judges

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11.2.1 European Patent Organisation

The European Patent Organisation, instituted by the EPC, has two organs: the EPO and the Administrative Council.7 Executive powers are assigned to the EPO and its president, and supervisory powers are assigned to the Administrative Council.8 The Administrative Council consists of representatives of the Contracting States to the EPC.9 The Boards of Appeal, although not a separate organ of the European Patent Organisation but structurally a part of the EPO,10 are assigned the role of an independent judiciary in this patent system.11 They provide an independent review of decisions taken by the EPO’s Receiving Section, Examining Divisions, Opposition Divisions and the Legal Division.12