2.2.4 Types of debit orders

The debit order may be a debit order for individual fees or an automatic debit order, in each case for one or more patent applications. By filing an automatic debit order, the deposit account holder authorises the EPO to debit fees automatically as the proceedings progress (see AAD, Supplementary publication 2, OJ 2024, and e.g. T 1474/19 and T 342/21). The automatic debiting procedure is open only to applicants, patent proprietors and their representatives, but not to opponents (whether in first-instance proceedings or as a party to appeal or review proceedings), third parties or persons (other than the applicant or patent proprietor) who inspect the file (see point 1.3 AAD, point II of Annex A.2 to the ADA and e.g. T 71/21 in this chapter III.U.2.2.5; see also T 2053/20 in chapter III.A.3.2.).