INFORMATION FROM THE CONTRACTING / EXTENSION STATES
CH Switzerland
Payment of renewal fees
On 1 January 1998, revised versions of Switzerland's Ordinance on Patents for Inventions (Patent Ordinance)1 and Regulation on the Fees of the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (Fees Regulation)2 entered into force. The main change is that Switzerland no longer charges 3rd- and 4th-year renewal fees for patents, with the result that renewal fees for European patents are now not payable there until the start of the 5th year as from the date of filing. From the 6th year, patentees can also pay their renewal fees five at a time in advance at a reduced rate, provided they observe the time limits for paying the fees for the 6th, 11th and 16th years, or for payment plus surcharge under Article 18(3) Patent Ordinance.
The fee amounts given in Table VI of the EPO information brochure "National law relating to the EPC" (10th edition, 1997) continue to apply, ie a uniform fee of CHF 530 for each year from the 5th or a reduced fee of CHF 2 300 for the above
5-year periods.