The European Patent Office (EPO) will allow colour and greyscale drawings to be filed electronically from 1 October 2025, responding to user demand and advancing its digital transformation. This update supports full digital processing and publication of applications in colour or greyscale formats.
Colour or greyscale remains unacceptable in descriptions, claims, or abstracts—any such content will be converted to black and white. Applicants should avoid colour-dependent descriptions in text.
Euro-direct applications filed electronically on or after 1 October 2025 may include colour or greyscale drawings, including in divisional applications. Corrections or additions under Rule 56 EPC must match the format of the original priority documents.
PCT international phase applications do not accept colour drawings; the International Bureau (IB) converts them to black and white. However, originally submitted colour versions are stored and made visible on PATENSCOPE.
For Euro-PCT applications entering the European phase on or after 1 October 2025, the EPO will process colour drawings only if available on PATENTSCOPE and referenced in the international publication. Otherwise, the black-and-white version will apply.
Translations and subsequent amendments must exactly match the original drawing format—whether colour, greyscale, or black and white—and comply with EPC requirements. Filed colour or greyscale drawings will be included in file inspections and publications.
Source: EPO Website