No requirement to attend EPO Oral Proceedings in person

For the past 10 years, Optimus has employed the latest video conferencing technology and has been at the forefront of the EPO’s strategy for European Patent Attorney representatives to participate in EPO Examination Division Oral Proceedings by Video Conference. The European Patent Office also announced in November 2020 that, from 4 January 2021, all examination and opposition hearings would be held via videoconference by default.

The EPO indicated that it was increasing the use of videoconferencing in order to reduce the backlog of unresolved oppositions and to mitigate the spread of coronavirus to ensure the safety of staff.

The announcement https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/information-epo/archive/20201110.html states:

• That the postponement of in-person opposition hearings (currently until 31 December 2020) will be extended to 15 September 2021 along with extension of the VICO pilot project to the same date; and
• That the consent of all parties for holding an opposition by VICO will no longer be necessary with effect from 4 January 2021, for the duration of the pilot project.