(information updated on November 10, 2020)

In order to ensure the safety of our employees and clients, REGIMBEAU is strictly following health recommendations, adapting our working conditions to these exceptional circumstances.

As such, we inform you that: 

• We are fully organized to ensure the continuity of our activity, in particular via telecommuting and the secure digitization of our work procedures. 
• For IP proceedings, we are in regular contact with national and European authorities as well as with our foreign correspondents and are following the measures taken by the offices of each country. 
• European Patent Office (EPO) (https://www.epo.org/news-events/covid-19.html):
• Oral proceedings in examination will continue to be held by videoconference in accordance with the Decision of the President of the EPO dated 1 April 2020 concerning oral proceedings by videoconference before examining divisions. 
• The "pilot project" to make oral proceedings possible in opposition proceedings is modified and extended: where oral proceedings have been requested, or are deemed useful by the Opposition Division, the parties will now be summoned to oral proceedings which will take place by videoconference.
• Oral proceedings before an Examining Division or an Opposition Division may only take place on the premises of the EPO if there are serious grounds for not holding such proceedings in the form of a video conference (Article 2 and Article 2(2) of the Decision of the President of the European Patent Office of 10 November 2020 concerning the amendment and extension of the pilot project relating to the holding of oral proceedings by videoconference before the Opposition Divisions).
• Regarding oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal, in the light of the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the Boards of Appeal have reassessed some of their recently introduced measures concerning their organisation. It should be noted that these measures differ from those decided for oral proceedings before the Examination and Opposition Divisions. In particular, the EPO continues to hold oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal on site, although these oral proceedings may now also be held by videoconference, provided that the parties concerned agree.

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to your contacts at REGIMBEAU, preferably by e-mail to their usual address. ​

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