EPO Postpones All Opposition Division Oral Proceedings For The Remainder Of 2020

• Publication Date: 30 July 2020
• Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Operational Impacts and Strategy
• Law Firm: J A Kemp LLP
• Author: J A Kemp LLP

The EPO has announced today that all opposition division oral proceedings scheduled to take place in 2020 are being postponed. There remains the option for opposition division oral proceedings to take place by videoconference under the EPO's pilot project (see our briefing on videoconference oral proceedings here), but only with the consent of all parties.

The EPO has not been conducting in person opposition division oral proceedings at its offices since March 2020, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EPO had previously been hoping to resume in person opposition division oral proceedings from 15 September 2020, but has presumably now realised that this is not realistic in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic...