I.Introduction 

87Renewal fees for Unitary Patents and any additional fees for their late payment are to be paid to the EPO. They are due in respect of the years following the year in which the mention of the grant of the European patent which benefits from unitary effect is published in the European Patent Bulletin (see Rule 13(1) UPR). See point 39 for the amount of the renewal fees and point 139 for the payment methods.

88The due dates for renewal fees for Unitary Patents are in line with the system in place for European patent applications under Rule 51(1) EPC, so a renewal fee for a Unitary Patent in respect of the coming year will be due on the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the date of filing of the European patent application which led to the Unitary Patent. Renewal fees cannot be validly paid more than three months before they fall due (Rule 13(2) UPR).