2025 guidelines updates from EPO and UKIPO

The start of 2025 has seen a number of updates to the official published guidelines for practice and procedures of the European Patent Office (EPO) and UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). These are available via the links below.

A significant new item is the EPO’s first version of its Guidelines for Unitary Patent procedures (see link below) which will be in force from 1 April 2025. This procedural guidance is helpful. There are also numerous changes to the EPO’s Guidelines for Examination coming into force on the same date, and the UKIPO’s equivalent Manual of Patent Practice has also been updated. Some of these changes influence filing and prosecution strategies.

Click here for our separate article highlighting key updates for AI & quantum patenting outlining specific changes for 2025.

EPO Guidelines

The currently applicable versions and the 1 April 2025 versions of the European Patent Office’s Guidelines can all be accessed via the links on this EPO web page. The official collection includes three separate Guidelines documents:

• EPC Guidelines – updated 2025

The 1 April 2025 version of the Guidelines for Examination under the European Patent Convention is available here.

• Guidelines for EPO-PCT – updated 2025

The 1 April 2025 version of the Guidelines for search and examination at the EPO as a PCT authority is available here.

• Guidelines for Unitary Patent procedures – new in 2025

New Guidelines for Unitary Patents come into effect on 1 April 2025. These Guidelines for practice and procedures for obtaining, maintaining and managing European patents with unitary effect are available here.

UKIPO Guidance

On 2 January 2025, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) updated its Manual of Patent Practice. On 30 January 2025, the UKIPO published an update to its guidelines for examining patent applications relating to AI. The updates are available on the UKIPO website:

• UKIPO Manual of Patent Practice

The Manual of Patent Practice (MoPP) provides guidance to UKIPO examiners on how to interpret and apply the UK Patents Act and national law.

• AI patenting guidance

This link is to an updated version of the UKIPO’s Guidelines for examining patent applications relating to AI.

Sharing feedback

The EPO is currently running a public consultation on their updated Guidelines, with any comments provided by 1 April 2025 being considered by the Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO as soon as May 2025.

Anyone wishing to send suggestion for additions or improvements to the Guidelines can email Guidelines@epo.org at any time of year.

We have provided a number of recommendations to both the EPO and UKIPO, some of which were adopted by the patent offices. We welcome further recommendations from any Venner Shipley clients who choose to share their recommendations with us.

Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.