Intellectual Property Office
Many UK customers use the European Patent Offices (EPO) Online Filing (eOLF) software to file patents. In November last year, the EPO announced changes to modernise access to their online services. As a result, you will need to take action to continue accessing eOLF.
Over the coming months, the EPO will be phasing out the smart cards that are used to access eOLF in favour of two-factor authentication (2FA).
From 30 September 2024 you will no longer be able to replace smart cards that expire. From 1 January 2025, you will no longer be able to use smart cards to access eOLF at all.
To address this, the IPO will be rolling out 2FA for eOLF from September this year. Once you have started using 2FA you will no longer need a smart card.
What do I need to do to keep using eOLF?
To use 2FA you will need to install a soft certificate. Each individual user will need their own soft certificate. Before you do this you should make sure that you have the latest version of eOLF installed.
We will provide further details on the specific steps you will need to go through to continue using eOLf, and who to contact to start this process at the start of September.
The process of issuing soft certificates should take approximately 1-2 weeks. However, we will be prioritising requests so that those whose smart cards are expiring soon will receive their soft certificates first. Our priority is ensuring there is no disruption to your service.
If you have any queries about this, please email information@ipo.gov.uk.
What are the future plans for eOLF?
In the first half of 2025, we will be rolling out our new One IPO digital service, which will replace eOLF. The new service will both allow you to apply for patents and manage your patents portfolio online. In 2026 the service will be extended to include trade marks, designs and IP tribunals.
We are committed to supporting eOLF until at least three months after our new One IPO service goes live. This means that eOLF will continue to be available well into 2025.
We will inform you of the precise date that eOLF will be disabled for UK patent applications well in advance of it happening.
A reminder of whats happening
What is changing
When the IPOs new patents service launches:
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you will no longer be able to start new Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications with IPO UK via eOLF
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new online PCT applications will have to be made via ePCT (the World Intellectual Property Offices online filing service)
Three months after the new patent service launches:
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eOLF will be disabled for all IPO UK filings
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new GB patent applications will be made online via the new IPO UK digital service
What is not changing
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you will still be able to make paper GB, PCT and European Patent (EP) applications directly with IPO UK
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you will still be able to file EPs digitally through EPOs online filing service Online Filing 2.0. This cant be used to file with IPO UK as the receiving office
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you will be able to file patent applications in other countries via their national IP offices and World Intellectual Property Office (W