EPO - European Patent Drawing Requirements
Notice from the European Patent Office dated 5 September 2025 concerning drawings in colour and greyscale
I. Introduction
1. In response to long-standing user demand and as part of continuing efforts to leverage the benefits of digitalisation, the EPO will permit the electronic filing and processing of drawings in colour and greyscale from 1 October 2025.1 This initiative furthermore implements the relevant part of the common practice adopted by the Administrative Council in March 2024 (CA/4/24) and forms part of the broader digitalisation of EPO services, thus aligning with the EPO's strategy to enable end-to-end electronic processing and publication of applications, including in colour and greyscale format.
2. In accordance with Article 1(2)(a) of the decision of the President dated 7 July 2025 under Rule 49(2) EPC, while drawings may continue to be filed in black and white, colour and greyscale drawings are admissible if filed electronically. At present, application and other documents can be filed electronically using Online Filing 2.0, ePCT, the EPO Contingency Upload Service and MyEPO.
II. Colour drawings in European and international (PCT) applications and on entry into the European phase
3. The use of colour or greyscale in the description, claims or abstract is inadmissible. In line with current practice, if nonetheless filed in colour, such elements will be converted to black and white for publication.
4. Applicants are advised not to refer to colour-specific features of the drawings in the description, claims or abstract (e.g. by stating that a particular component is "beige" or "yellow"), as colour specifications may not always be reliably and objectively identifiable.
Drawings in European patent applications (Euro-direct)
5. European patent applications ("Euro-direct applications") filed electronically on or after 1 October 2025 may contain drawings in colour or greyscale. This also applies to divisional applications received on or after 1 October 2025. However, colour or greyscale drawings in a divisional application will be examined with respect to compliance with Article 76(1) EPC.
6. Mixed submissions combining colour/greyscale and black-and-white drawings are permitted.
7. When filing missing parts or correct drawings under Rule 56(3) or Rule 56a(4) EPC, applicants should ensure that these drawings correspond exactly to the content and format of the drawings in the priority application. If the priority application drawings were filed in black and white, any missing or corrected drawings must also be submitted in black and white.
Drawings in international (PCT) applications – international phase
8. Colour drawings are not admissible under the PCT.2 Colour drawings that are nonetheless contained in an international (PCT) application are rendered in black and white by the International Bureau of WIPO (IB) for subsequent processing and international publication. The IB offers a dedicated preview function that enables applicants to view, before filing, the content of any application body provided in either PDF or DOCX format as it will be rendered by the IB for subsequent processing and publication in black and white if filed using ePCT or Online Filing 2.0.3
9. For international applications filed electronically using ePCT or Online Filing 2.0, the original version in colour or greyscale is also transmitted and is retained by the IB and made available to the public and national patent offices on PATENTSCOPE. The availability on PATENTSCOPE of the version as filed in colour or greyscale is indicated on the cover page of the international publication.
Drawings in international (PCT) applications – European phase entry (Euro-PCT applications)
10. For Euro-PCT applications entering the European phase on or after 1 October 2025, processing will be based on drawings in colour or greyscale on condition that they are available on PATENTSCOPE and the international publication mentions this ("the international application as filed contained color or greyscale and is available for download from PATENTSCOPE"). If the colour or greyscale drawings are not available on PATENTSCOPE and/or the international publication does not mention them, processing will be based on the drawings as published in black and white.
11. For Euro-PCT applications having entered the European phase before 1 October 2025, processing will be based on the drawings as published in black and white, even if the international application was filed with drawings in colour or greyscale. In such cases, if the applicant subsequently files drawings in colour or greyscale with the EPO as designated or elected Office, the EPO will examine compliance with Article 123(2) EPC. Only where the colour or greyscale drawings are available on PATENTSCOPE and the international publication mentions this is the application as filed deemed to comprise the said drawings in colour or greyscale. Furthermore, if the EPO accepts amended colour drawings received on or after 1 October 2025, such colour drawings will be used as the basis for processing and thus will be included in the B publication.
Translations
12. Drawings in translations submitted under Article 14(2) and Rule 6(1) EPC may contain colour or greyscale content only to the same extent as the original drawings. Moreover, the colour or greyscale content must correspond exactly to that in the original drawings. If the application was filed with drawings in black and white, translations must also be filed with drawings in black and white.
13. For Euro-PCT applications entering the European phase, if the original drawings were filed in colour or greyscale and are available in that format on PATENTSCOPE and the international publication mentions this, any drawings in translations submitted under Article 153(4) and Rule 159(1)(a) EPC may contain colour or greyscale content only to the same extent as the original drawings. Moreover, the colour or greyscale content must correspond exactly to that in the original drawings. If the PCT application was filed with drawings in black and white, translations must also be submitted with drawings in black and white. The same applies if the original drawings were filed in colour or greyscale but this version is not available on PATENTSCOPE and/or the international publication does not mention them or if the translation was filed on paper.
Priority
14. When claiming priority, the conditions and requirements of Articles 87 and 88 EPC apply, including in respect of any colour or greyscale drawings contained in the subsequent application.
15. Electronically certified priority documents issued by the EPO will reflect the documents as originally filed, including any colour or greyscale content in the drawings. Electronic copies provided via WIPO-DAS will maintain colour/greyscale content if originally filed in that format. However, applicants should be aware that individual offices accessing WIPO-DAS may independently convert priority documents they retrieve to black and white, according to their practice.
16. Priority documents issued by the EPO on paper will reflect the original document format as filed, including colour and greyscale drawings if applicable.
III. Amendments and subsequently filed documents
17. Article 1(2)(a) of the decision of the President dated 7 July 2025 also applies to amendments filed electronically on or after 1 October 2025. The conditions and requirements for filing amendments, including Article 123(2) EPC in particular, apply.
18. Drawings of improved quality submitted under Rule 58 EPC may contain colour or greyscale content only to the same extent as the original drawings.
IV. File inspection and publication
19. Any colour and greyscale drawings filed electronically on or after 1 October 2025 will be made available for public file inspection in that format.
20. Euro-direct applications comprising drawings filed electronically in colour or greyscale on or after 1 October 2025 will be published in that format. The same applies to Euro-PCT applications for which a translation must be filed pursuant to Article 153(4) EPC if the original drawings were filed in colour or greyscale and are available in that format on PATENTSCOPE, and the international publication mentions this, provided such translation is received by the EPO on or after 1 October 2025.
21. Where a European patent is granted on the basis of drawings in colour or greyscale, the B publication will likewise contain these drawings in colour or greyscale.