A patent application is filed in the EPO. At the end of the convention
year a PCT application is filed, claiming EPO priority, and including among
its designated states and regions the EPO. The original case is published
by the EPO, followed (usually the same week) by the PCT, and the two
documents are so far as I can determine absolutely identical (in a couple
of instances I have found minute changes). The PCT case then goes into the
EPO phase, presumably to arise again as an EP publication. I don't believe
I've yet seen any of these finally appear from the EPO for the second
time.....in which case of course it would not actually be printeded, merely
assigned a number.
What the hell is happening? How and why? Your input is requested.
Stu Kaback