On April 1, 2021, a new Article 15a of the Rules of Procedure of
the Boards of Appeal (RPBA) on videoconference oral hearings goes
into effect.
Many parties and delegates have been unable to attend oral
hearings in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel
restrictions. To ensure prompt access to justice in these cases,
the Boards of Appeal adopted the option of holding oral hearings by
videoconference in May 2020. Oral hearings in over 380 appeal cases
were held via videoconference between May 2020 and February
2021.
The method of conducting oral hearings before the Boards of
Appeal through videoconference is now codified in new Article 15a of the RPBA.
Oral hearings were initially conducted via videoconference only
if both parties agreed. Since January 1, 2021, they have also been
performed in appropriate cases without the permission of the
parties. This procedure has been confirmed by the Board of Appeal
Committee (BOAC) and the Administrative
