Rule 71(3) EPCによれば、EPOは、特許付与する旨のCommunicationを発行し、特許付与するテキスト（発明の内容）に同意するか否かを出願人に問いあわせてきます。審査官の提示したテキストに対して出願人が同意できない場合、反論／補正の機会が出願人に付与されます。

出願人が、上記テキストに同意する場合、所要の手数料の所定期間内（Rule 71(3) のCommunicationの発行から４ヶ月以内で、期間延長不可。）の納付、手続言語以外の他の二言語に翻訳されたクレームの提出が必要となります。上記手数料の納付およびクレームの翻訳文が上記所定期間内に提出されなかった場合、出願は取下げられたものとみなされます。

出願人は、上記テキストに同意しない場合、補正クレームの公用語への翻訳文を準備してEPOにファイルする必要があります。ただし、EPOが補正クレームに同意しない場合もあり、この場合、ファイルした上記補正クレームは無駄になります。

この点に関し、EPOのAdminstrative Council は、2010年10月26日に、Rule 71 EPCを一部改正（Rule 71(3)～(7) EPC）すると共にRule 71a EPCを新たに導入する旨の決定 *1 を行いました。これらの改正の施行日は、2012年4月1日です。また、改正ルールは、2012年4月1日前に現行のRule 71(3) EPCに係るCommunicationが発行されていないEP特許出願に対して適用されます。

改正後の手続によれば、出願人が特許付与するテキスト（発明の内容）に同意しない場合、Rule 71(6) EPCの規定に基づき、上記テキストに対するreasoned amendments or corrections（手続言語で処理。ただし、Rule 71(6) EPCは、どのような補正がreasoned amendments or correctionsに該当するかについては言及していません。）を請求することが可能になります。

EPOが出願人の補正に同意した場合、Rule 71(3) EPCの規定に基づいてnew Communicationが発行され、新たに同意したテキスト（発明の内容）が出願人に示され、所定期間内（new Communicationの発行から４ヶ月以内で、期間延長不可。）に前述と同様の手続を行うことが求められます。

これに対して、EPOが出願人の補正に同意しなかった場合、審査が再開されます。この点に関し、新たに設定されたRule 71a(2) EPCに明確に規定されています。

以下は、改正後のRule 71(3)～(7) EPCおよびRule 71a EPCの条文です。

Rule 71(3) EPC　Before the Examining Division decides to grant the European patent, it shall inform the applicant of the text in which it intends to grant it and of the related bibliographic data. In this communication the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to pay the fee for grant and publishing and to file a translation of the claims in the two official languages of the European Patent Office other than the language of the proceedings within four months.

Rule 71(4) EPC　If the European patent application in the text intended for grant comprises more than fifteen claims, the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to pay claims fees in respect of the sixteenth and each subsequent claim within the period under paragraph 3 unless the said fees have already been paid under Rule 45 or Rule 162.

Rule 71(5) EPC　If the applicant, within the period laid down in paragraph 3, pays the fees under paragraph 3 and, where applicable, paragraph 4 and files the translations under paragraph 3, he shall be deemed to have approved the text communicated to him under paragraph 3 and verified the bibliographic data.

Rule 71(6) EPC　If the applicant, within the period under paragraph 3, requests reasoned amendments or corrections to the communicated text or keeps to the latest text submitted by him, the Examining Division shall issue a new communication under paragraph 3 if it gives its consent; otherwise it shall resume the examination proceedings.

Rule 71(7) EPC　If the fee for grant and publishing or the claims fees are not paid in due time, or if the translations are not filed in due time, the European patent application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.

The following new Rule 71a shall be added in Part IV, Chapter IV:

Rule 71a EPC

Conclusion of the grant procedure

(1) The decision to grant the European patent shall be issued if all fees have been paid, a translation of the claims in the two official languages of the European Patent Office other than the language of the proceedings has been filed and there is agreement as to the text to be granted. It shall state which text of the European patent application forms the basis for the decision.

(2) Until the decision to grant the European patent, the Examining Division may resume the examination proceedings at any time.

(3) If the designation fee becomes due after the communication under Rule 71, paragraph 3, the mention of the grant of the European patent shall not be published until the designation fee has been paid. The applicant shall be informed accordingly.

(4) If a renewal fee becomes due after the communication under Rule 71, paragraph 3, and before the next possible date for publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, the mention shall not be published until the renewal fee has been paid. The applicant shall be informed accordingly.

(5) If, in response to an invitation under Rule 71, paragraph 3, the applicant has already paid the fee for grant and publishing or the claims fees, the paid amount shall be credited if a further such invitation is issued.

(6) If the European patent application is refused, withdrawn prior to notification of the decision on the grant of a European patent or, at that time, deemed to be withdrawn, the fee for grant and publishing shall be refunded.

以　上