INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
PCT
Reduced international search and preliminary examination fees on international applications, for nationals of developing countries
1. Under earlier decisions by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (dated 3 December 1983 and 8 June 19841) the fees for an international search and international preliminary examination carried out at the EPO can be reduced by 75% if the international application was filed by a national of a developing country with the receiving Office of such a country or the receiving Office acting on behalf of that country. This currently applies to nationals of the following developing countries:
Barbados, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
ARIPO member states2: Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Swaziland and Uganda.
OAPI member states3: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
2. The fee reduction is granted only on request by the applicant. Application forms are available free of charge from the relevant national industrial property office or regional organisation, WIPO's International Bureau, and the EPO. Together with the form comes the necessary information for applicants, including details of the conditions they have to fulfil.
1 OJ EPO 1984, 3 and 297.
2 In the case of prospective member states (provided they are developing countries), as from the date on which they join the PCT and ARIPO.
3 In the case of prospective member states (provided they are developing countries), as from the date on which they join the PCT and OAPI.