IMPORTANT: SGML files are "old" file formats and we hope to end the posting of these by the end of 2006.
You should use the new XML files (click here). The documentation listed below will not be updated.

Below you will find links to all the documentation required in order to understand and process EBD SGML files. These files contain complex, SGML tagged data which detail, on a weekly basis, bibliographic details of all new EPO patent applications and specifications and all the previous weeks changes to existing files. These are 'raw', unformatted but highly structured data files. Note also that the system processing the file must be set to read character set ASCII 437/850 or EBCDIC code page 500 (for binary files); if not certain characters will not display correctly.

These files do not give the whole history and status of an EPO application or patent. To view this data you will need to go to the:

• Register of European Patents on the Internet;
  or subscribe to the
• EP ESPACE Bulletin CD-ROM

EBD files are primarily intended for EPO National Offices, other Patent Offices and commercial database host systems to update their patent databases.

If you download EBD files they will not be too much use to you unless you:

• have a good understanding of EPO patent procedures
• have a good understanding of SGML processing
• probaby have a database to store the data (for searching, updating, etc). In such a case you will have to write a conversion program - converting SGML tags to database records, for example. Unfortunately, the EPO is unable to give any help in this area.

The first document listed below, "EBD Specification", is the only document required in order to understand the format of the bibliographic data. This document gives a comprehensive description of the file format and also gives many examples of use. The other documents are for background information.