FAQ

To create text-based PDF files for online submission with DPMAdirekt, you can use any programme that generates PDF files in a format compatible with Adobe Portable Document Format, version 1.4 (e.g. Acrobat version 5 or higher).

In addition to Adobe® Acrobat, there are many other software products on the market that generate PDF files.

If necessary, your programme must be specially adapted and preset to the required format in order to embed all fonts.

An overview of the options for PDF creation and the settings for these programmes has been compiled for you in .

Please note that the German Patent and Trade Mark Office can only accept documents that are compatible with Annex F. The full text of Annex F can be found at WIPO website in English.

Rules for PDF files according to Annex F:

• The PDF file must be compatible with Adobe PDF version 1.4.
• The text in the PDF file must not be encrypted.
• The PDF file must not contain any embedded OLE objects.
• The fonts used in the PDF file must be embedded.
• The paper format must correspond to the dimensions of DIN A4.

Additional rules for PDF files:

• The PDF file must not contain any copy protection.
• The PDF file must not contain any hidden content.
• PDF files created with a scanner generally do not comply with the rules for text-based PDF files.

If the graphic was created in a different format, e.g. PNG or TIF, it is not sufficient to simply change the file extension to "jpg". This does not change the underlying graphic format.

Instead, the graphic must be saved in the image editing programme with the extension/format "jpg". Only then will the graphic correspond to the required format.