EPO: oral proceedings by VICO

This week the EPO hosted its 1000th examination oral proceeding by videoconference (VICO) since the start of 2020, already far surpassing the total for all VICO hearings last year (867, representing about 14% of the total oral proceedings held in 2019). This record increase reflects the important changes in practice, introduced in April, to schedule all examination oral proceedings by VICO unless there are serious reasons not to do so.

In addition to the substantial increase in VICOs for examination oral proceedings, since the start of May a new pilot programme for opposition hearings by VICO has already seen over 50 cases taking place, with another 50 planned during the summer.