PCT Newsletter
May 2026 | No. 05/2026
European Patent Office enables use of ePCT for electronic notifications
From 1 June 2026, all users of the European Patent Office (EPO) will be able to use WIPO’s ePCT online service to receive electronic notifications of PCT communications issued by the EPO.
The new feature is the result of close cooperation between the EPO and WIPO and will allow PCT users to choose a faster, more secure digital alternative to paper-based notifications. It will apply to communications issued by the EPO in its capacity as receiving Office (after transmittal of the record copy to the International Bureau (IB)), International Searching Authority or International Preliminary Examining Authority.
To use the new service, EPO users must have a WIPO account and must indicate their consent to receiving electronic notifications for each PCT application filed, either at the time of filing (using Form PCT/RO/101) or at a later stage.
Users who have opted for the service will be able to retrieve communications directly in ePCT relating to applications for which they have consented to such notification. They will receive an email containing a link to view and download documents in ePCT. No paper copies of PCT communications will be sent. Each document sent electronically will be deemed to be delivered on the date shown on the document.
For the time being, notification via ePCT will not be available for communications issued by the EPO as an Authority specified for supplementary search under PCT Rule 45bis or for communications issued by the EPO as receiving Office before the record copy is transmitted to the IB.
For further information, refer to the notice published by the EPO.
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