Late changes of the API and temporary deactivation of “get document” functionality

In the week preceding the start of the sunrise period, it became clear to the UPC team that the public API designed to retrieve public documentation from the CMS could be misused in certain aspects. For privacy and security reasons, it was therefore decided to temporarily remove the “get document” functionality. Even though this doesn’t affect the possibility to opt out, neither manually nor via APIs, it means that the API solution currently cannot be used for downloading receipts from the CMS. Unfortunately, this change had to be done on short notice and the possibility to provide a satisfactory prior warning to users was therefore limited.

The UPC team is fully aware that the possibility to retrieve the opt-out receipt via an API solution is an important functionality for users who want to do bulk opt-outs and we are currently working hard to make the “get document” functionality available again.

The foreseen solution, a minor change in the API, is currently being developed and tested internally. We foresee that it can go into production on the CMS at the latest March 23. Prior to this the required technical information will be provided to the users at the latest March 13 and the solution will be accessible in our CERUS test environment as from at the latest March 17.

Registration of representatives

We are receiving a large number of applications for registration as representative before the Court. Applications under Article 48(2) UPC Agreement are being manually checked and we are aiming to process the requests as fast as possible. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee a date by which individual application checks will be completed.

Provided successful check, and independent of the date of verification, the date of lodging of the application for registration as representative will be the date of its receipt (for instance, 1 March 2023). This is the date that will be entered in the Register as the date of registration.

Nothing prevents a representative to launch an opt-out application while his/her application to become a representative is pending the manual check. The representative however bears the full responsibility that he/she fulfills the requirement to be a representative according to the UPC Agreement and applicable EPLC Rules.

We kindly ask representatives awaiting approval of their request not to contact staff of the Court via the individual e-mail addresses of said staff. You are primarily referred to the FAQ section of the Courts website. If the information you seek cannot be found there you are invited to contact the Court via the Request form available under the following link and we will do our best to respond to your query in due time.