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New fee rates in Italy
(this notice supersedes that published on 22 June and corrects the one to appear in OJ 7/2007, page 455; point 7 has been amended in the light of Italy's rules and regulations)IT Italy
New fee rates
Having reintroduced patent renewal fees under Law No. 296 of 27 December 2006
1
, Italy has now laid down the new rates by ministerial decree of 2 April 2007
2
.
Applicants for and proprietors of European patents with effect in Italy are advised that from 1 January 2007 (renewal fees) and from 23 April 2007 (other fees) the following rates apply:
-
Renewal fees:
Year
EUR
5th year
60
6th year
90
7th year
120
8th year
170
9th year
200
10th year
230
11th year
310
12th year
410
13th year
530
14th year
600
15th year
650
16th year
650
17th year
650
18th year
650
19th year
650
20th year
650
Late-payment surcharge: EUR 100
-
For publication of the translation of the European patent specification under Article 65 EPC, no fee is payable.
-
Conversion of a European patent application into a national one
Filing fee (electronic): EUR 50
Filing fee (paper): EUR 120 to EUR 600, depending on length of application
Claims fee for the eleventh and each subsequent claim*: EUR 45
Search fee* (in the absence of an English translation of the claims): EUR 200
* (payable only as from entry into force of the working agreement between Italy and the EPO)
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Registration of transfers, licences and other rights: EUR 50
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Time limits for paying renewal fees
The due date for paying renewal fees is the last day of the month of the anniversary of the filing date, but – subject to payment of a surcharge – they may still be validly paid during a further six-month period as from the due date.
-
Transitional provisions
Renewal fees falling due between 1 January and 30 April 2007 may be validly paid up to 30 June 2007 and – subject to payment of a surcharge – during a six-month period as from the due date. Otherwise the patent concerned will lapse with effect from 31 December 2006.
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Method of payment (giro accounts)
For any fee payment in Italy relating to a European patent, the name of the payee is "Agenzia delle Entrate – Centro Operativo di Pescara".
The new giro account details are as follows:
-
For European patent renewal fees only:
Giro account ("conto corrente postale") No.: 81016008
-
For other fees (e.g. for filing or for transfers of rights):
Giro account ("conto corrente postale") No.: 668004
These giro accounts cannot be used for direct national or international bank or giro transfers, but only for payments made using the appropriate transfer form (Ch. 8quater) at an Italian post office. The payment voucher (Section 4) has to be presented to the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM, Ufficio G5). The purpose of the payment must be stated.
The date considered as the effective payment date is the date of inpayment at an Italian post office (date stamp).
-
For European patent renewal fees only:
-
Universities, public institutions which conduct research, and government departments responsible for defence or for agricultural, food and forestry policy are exempt from fees for filing or for transfers of rights.
Users of this brochure (13th edition) should amend accordingly the information in Tables VI, columns 1, 2 and 3, VII, column 2, VIII, columns 2 and 3, and IX, columns 4 and 7.
1 Published in the "Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 299 Supplemento ordinario n. 244" of 27.12.2006
2 Published in the "Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 81" of 06.04.2007, p. 33 ff