D 2024: No 10 days anymore - unless you really want to (or stick to the version as defined in the REE/IPREE)!!!
The Supervisory Board of the EQE issued a decision on "Notification and time limit calculation" dated 26 June 2023:
"1. Candidates sitting the EQE 2024 (pre-examination and main examination) can use as legal basis Rules 126, 127 and 131 EPC as in force on 31 October 2023 or Rules 126, 127 and 131 EPC as in force on 1 November 2023.
2. In the main exam papers, the default Rules 126, 127 and 131 EPC to be applied are those in force on 1 November 2023. If the candidate chooses to apply Rules 126, 127 and 131 EPC as in force on 31 October 2023, this must be clearly indicated.
3. Candidate papers will be marked accordingly."
So when calculating time limits during Paper D 2024 that run from the (fictitious) date of notification of a document, you are free to use:
- either the current "10-day rule" for deemed notification (with true date of receipt if received later) according to current Rule 126(2)/127(2) (as in force until 31/10/2023 in line with Rules 2 & 22 IPREE) - in which case you need to indicate that you use the version as in force in 31/10/2023; Guidelines E-II, 2.3 and 2.4
- or the new PCT-like version (as in force from 1/11/2023) with deemed notification on date of dispatch/date of the document and a compensation for receipt later than 7 days (OJ 2022, A101, article 1(10)-(12); OJ 2022, A114, section IV; and OJ 2023, A29; also Guidelines E-II, 2.3 and 2.4) - in this case, you do not need to indicate that you use the new version (despite it deviating from Rule 2 & 22 IPREE).
