(4) Ustna obravnava, vključno z izrekom odločitve, je javna pri pritožbenih senatih in razširjenem pritožbenem senatu po objavi evropske patentne prijave, pa tudi pri oddelku za ugovore, razen če oddelek, pri katerem obravnava poteka, ne odloči drugače v primerih, ko bi pripustitev javnosti lahko povzročila resno in neupravičeno škodo zlasti za stranko v postopku.
(4) Oral proceedings, including delivery of the decision, shall be public, as regards the Boards of Appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal, after publication of the European patent application, and also before the Opposition Divisions, in so far as the department before which the proceedings are taking place does not decide otherwise in cases where admission of the public could have serious and unjustified disadvantages, in particular for a party to the proceedings.