FEES
Guidance for the payment of fees
Guidance for the payment of fees, expenses and prices
1. Applicable version of the Rules relating to Fees and the Schedule of Fees
The Rules relating to Fees in the version applicable as from 13 December 2007 are set out in the Supplement to OJ EPO 11/2007. The amounts applicable as from 1 April 2008 were fixed by decision of the Administrative Council of 14 December 2007 (CA/D 16/07, OJ EPO 2008, 5).
The current Schedule of fees and expenses of the EPO (status 1 July 2008) is set out in the Supplement to OJ EPO 7/2008.
2. Important implementing rules to the Rules relating to Fees
Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 revising the Office's fees and expenses: OJ EPO 2008, 202.
Arrangements for deposit accounts including Arrangements for the automatic debiting procedure and Arrangements for Online Fee Payment via My.epoline®: Supplement to OJ EPO 10/2007.
Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 25 March 1999 concerning the carrying out of international-type searches and the setting of a new fee for such searches: OJ EPO 1999, 300; revised amount: Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008, point 2.2.1 (OJ EPO 2008, 202).
Decision of the President of the EPO dated 12 July 2007 concerning the payment of fees and costs at the Information Office in Munich: Special edition No. 3, OJ EPO 2007, M.4.
3. Payment and refund of fees and expenses
It is strongly recommended that the most up-to-date version of the EPO form for the payment of fees and expenses (Form 1010) is used for payments. The current version is from April 2008. The form can be downloaded from the EPO website. Paper copies are obtainable free of charge from the EPO and the patent authorities of the Contracting States. Alternatively, holders of deposit accounts with the EPO can pay fees by automatic debit or by Online Fee Payment (see 2. above).
Refund of search fees: Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the refund of search fees under Article 9(2) RFees: OJ EPO 2008, 126; Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the refund of search fees by the EPO acting as ISA: OJ EPO 2008, 195.
Paying renewal fees for European patent applications and patents:
Calculation of aggregate time limits: OJ EPO 1993, 229.
Payment of extension fees: (AL) OJ EPO 1996, 82; (MK) 1997, 538; (BA) 2004, 619; (RS) 2007, 406.
Abolition of payment by cheque: OJ EPO 2007, 626.
A list of bank accounts opened in the name of the European Patent Organisation is printed at the end of each issue of the Official Journal and published on the website of the EPO.
4. Other notices concerning fees and prices
Claims incurring fees where the application includes more than one set of claims: OJ EPO 1985, 347.
Notice dated 1 October 2001 concerning the introduction of the euro: OJ EPO 2001, 524.
Notice dated 11 February 2008 concerning search and examination fees: OJ EPO 2008, 130.
5. Information concerning Euro-PCT applications (EPO as designated or elected Office)
Fee for a supplementary European search waived where the international search report was drawn up by the EPO, the Austrian Patent Office, the Swedish Patent Office or the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office: OJ EPO 1979, 4, 50 and 248; 1995, 511 (applicable to international applications filed before 1 July 2005).
Fee for a supplementary European search waived where the international search report was drawn up by the EPO: CA/D 41/07, OJ EPO 2007, 642.
Reduction of the fee for a supplementary European search where the international search report was drawn up by the Austrian Patent Office, the National Patents and Registration Board of Finland, the Swedish Patent and Registration Office, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office or the Nordic Patent Institute: CA/D 41/07, OJ EPO 2007, 642; CA/D 46/07, OJ EPO 2008, 12.
Reduction of the fee for a supplementary European search where the international search report was drawn up by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Japan Patent Office, the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks (Russian Federation), the Australian Patent Office, the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO) or the Korean Intellectual Property Office:
for applications filed before 1.7.2005: OJ EPO 1979, 368; 1981, 5; 1994, 6 and 691; 2000, 321;
for applications filed on or after 1.7.2005: OJ EPO 2005, 548.
Reduction of the examination fee where the international preliminary examination report was drawn up by the EPO: OJ EPO 2008, 130, point 4.
Guide for applicants – part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO – "Euro-PCT", chapter E (3rd edition).
6. Guidance for international applications (EPO as receiving Office, International Searching Authority or International Preliminary Examining Authority)
Fees for international applications: OJ EPO 2008, 387.
Reduction of the fees for the international search and preliminary examination carried out on an international application in favour of the nationals of certain states: OJ EPO 2000, 446.
Late payment fee under Rule 16bis.2 PCT: OJ EPO 1992, 383.
Late payment fee under Rule 58bis.2 PCT: OJ EPO 1998, 282.
Changes in respect of PCT applications filed as of 1 January 2004: OJ EPO 2003, 574.
Refund of international search fees: Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the refund of search fees by the EPO acting as ISA: OJ EPO 2008, 195.
Reduction for filing in electronic form: PCT Gazette 44/2003, 24736.
Fee for the late furnishing of sequence listings under Rule 13ter.1(c) PCT: OJ EPO 2005, 225.
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