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Regarding the comments of Stu Kaback, I don't know where the rumour he
refers to originated, but I can inform you that since it opened in 1978,
the EPO has required all applicants not having either a residence or
principal place of business in one of the Contracting States (i.e.
members of the European Patent Convention), to be represented by a
European Patent Attorney, i.e. an attorney qualified as a EPA and on the
Register of European Patent Attorneys. Only applicants having a
residence or principal place of business in one of the Contracting
States may (if they so choose) act on their own behalf in proceedings
before the EPO. However, in that case, the EPO advises such applicants
not having the requisite knowledge of patent matters to use the services
of an EPA.
I shal be glad to hear anything further about this "rumour".
Gerald E. Kosmin CPA, EPA
e-mail address:- gek@kosminassociates.demon.co.uk
-- G.E. Kosmin --------------
-- Alan Engel, ISTA, Inc. 950 Conestoga Road, Rosemont, PA 19010-1347 USA Tel: 610-527-4538, Fax: 610-527-2041 mailto:aengel@intlscience.com http://www.intlscience.com