On January 1, 2020, the revised Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal will enter into force, aiming “at increasing efficiency, by reducing the number of issues to be treated, predictability for the parties and harmonisation”.
It is to be expected that the number of requests filed in opposition proceedings will increase and part of the workload will shift form the Boards of Appeal to the Opposition Division.
Further, according to case G 2/19, holding oral proceedings in Haar (near Munich) does not violate the EPC, in particular Article 6(2) EPC, according to which the European Patent Office shall be located in Munich, having a branch located at The Hague.
