FEES
Consolidated text of the Rules relating to Fees
The following text of the Rules relating to Fees (RFees) incorporates all amendments agreed by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation as at 13 December 2001.
The decision of the Administrative Council of 28 June 2001 amending the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention and the Rules relating to Fees (OJ EPO 2001, 374) entailed the amendment of Article 2(3b) RFees and the inclusion of 3c, a new item. The maximum figure of EUR 715 stipulated in the current version of Article 2(3b) RFees has been reduced to EUR 650, as no more than seven designation fees are payable for applications filed since 1 July 1999. In addition, item 3b has been re-worded to reflect the amendment to Rule 85a EPC. The introduction of a maximum surcharge of EUR 1 750 under the new item 3c, including a fee of EUR 500 for the late submission of the translation of the application, takes account of the amendment to Rule 108 EPC.
In accordance with the decision of the Administrative Council of 28 June 2001 amending the Rules relating to Fees (OJ EPO 2001, 377), Article 5 RFees has been amended and Article 6 RFees deleted. The decision introduces the euro as the sole EPO currency, and does away with quoting EPO fees in other currencies.
In accordance with the decision of 28 June 2001 amending the Rules relating to Fees (OJ EPO 2001, 378), the fees quoted in Articles 2 and 8(3)(b) RFees have been rounded down to the nearest EUR 5 or 0 to simplify payments. This will reduce fees by a cumulative figure of EUR 8.35 million.
The decision of the Administrative Council of 18 October 2001 amending the Rules relating to Fees (OJ EPO 2001, 492) inserts a new Article 10d RFees which provides for the partial refund of the fee for international preliminary examination in connection with the rationalisation of international preliminary examination procedure at the EPO and amends Article 12(2) RFees concerning the European examination fee payable in such cases (see OJ EPO 2001, 539 ff).
In accordance with the decision of 13 December 2001 amending the Rules relating to Fees the European search fee refund system was simplified by amending Article 10 RFees.
These amendments to the RFees entered into force on 1, 2 and 3 January 2002, as appropriate.