Electronic Filing and Processing of International Applications
German Patent and Trade Mark Office
The German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), in its capacity as receiving Office, which already accepts international applications filed via ePCT-Filing, has notified the International Bureau (IB) of changes to its notification concerning the filing and processing of international applications in electronic form, as published in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) of 19 May 2012 (page 132 et seq.) and the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) of 18 August 2022 (page 225). The changes are related to the unavailability, as of 1 January 2025, of filing a PCT application with the DPMA via the EPO’s eOLF software and using the EPO’s Online Services Smartcard, as the EPO smart cards will no longer be valid as of that date.
The amended notification containing the requirements and practices of the Office with regard to the filing of international applications in electronic form was published in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) on 28 November 2024 at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/official_notices/index.html
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (DE))