INFORMATION FROM THE CONTRACTING / EXTENSION STATES
IT Italy
Certain patent fees abolished
Italy's Finance Law 20061 of 23 December 2005 has abolished a number of the national office's patent fees.
With effect from 1 January 2006, patent renewal fees are no longer payable in Italy. This also applies to European patents already in force there. Renewal fees due up to 31 December 2005 must however be paid, together with the surcharge if they are paid during the grace period.
The national filing fee hitherto payable for converting a European patent or application into a national one has also been abolished.
The other fees arising when European patents are validated in Italy remain unchanged.
Updating the EPO information brochure "National law relating to the EPC"
Users of this brochure should update its Tables VI, columns 1 and 3, and VII, column 2 (12th edition) accordingly.
1 Legge 23 dicembre 2005, n. 266 (Finanziaria 2006) – published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 302 of 29.12.2005, Suppl. ordinario n. 211.