5. Fee reductions
5.1. Filing fee, examination fee
This section has been updated to reflect case law and legislative changes up to 31 December 2023. For the previous version of this section please refer to the "Case Law of the Boards of Appeal", 10th edition (PDF). |
The RFees contain provisions regulating fee reductions for certain categories of applicant. By decision of 14 December 2023 (OJ 2024, A3), the Administrative Council amended R. 6 EPC and Art. 14 RFees and adopted new R. 7a and 7b EPC. These changes introduced a new fee reduction scheme specifically for micro-entities, which complements the existing support measures for small entities, and in particular the language-related fee reductions. The eligibility requirements for any language-related fee reductions are now provided for in Art. 14(4) and R. 7a(1) and (2) EPC (previously R. 6(3) and (4) EPC).
Art. 14(1) RFees defines the percentage of the language-related reduction of the filing fee and the examination fee provided for in R. 7a, paragraphs 1 and 3, EPC. For relevant decisions, see chapter III.F.6.Art. 14(2) RFees defines the percentage reduction of the examination fee for certain Euro-PCT applications having entered the regional phase. The reduction does not apply to divisional applications (J 1/09, confirming J 14/07).