FEES
Guidance for the payment of fees, costs and prices1
1. Effective version of the Rules relating to Fees and the fees schedule
The Rules relating to Fees in the version effective as from 1 January 2004 are as set out in the 11th edition (July 2002) of the European Patent Convention in conjunction with the decision of the Administrative Council of the EPO of 30 October 2003 (OJ EPO 2003, 531).
The schedule of fees and costs of the EPO in the version effective as from 1 January 2004 is as set out in the Supplement to OJ EPO 12/2003.
2. Important implementing rules to the Rules relating to Fees
Decision of the President of the EPO dated 21 January 2002 concerning the payment of fees and costs at the Information Office in Munich: OJ EPO 2002, 162.
New amounts of the fees provided for in Articles 2 and 8 of the Rules relating to Fees: OJ EPO 2001, 374, 378; 2003, 531.
Arrangements for deposit accounts: Supplement to OJ EPO No. 2/2002.
Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 25 March 1999 concerning the carrying-out of international-type searches and the setting of a new fee for such searches: OJ EPO 1999, 300.
Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 28 September 2001 revising the Office's fees and costs: OJ EPO 2001, 543.
Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 6 June 2003 revising the Office's fees and costs: OJ EPO 2003, 371.
3. Payment and refund of fees and costs
It is recommended that the EPO form for the settlement of fees or costs (Form 1010), obtainable free of charge from the EPO and the patent authorities of the contracting states, be used for each payment: OJ EPO 1992, 671 ff.
Notice from the President of the EPO dated 13 December 2001 concerning refund of search fees: OJ EPO 2002, 56.
Refund of the examination fee: OJ EPO 1981, 349; 1988, 293 and 354.
Paying renewal fees for European patent applications and patents: OJ EPO 1984, 272.
Payment and refund of fees: OJ EPO 1991, 573.
Calculation of aggregate time limits: OJ EPO 1993, 229.
Payment of the extension fee: OJ EPO 1994, 76 and 527; 1995, 345; 1996, 82, 601; 1997, 538; 2001, 590.
Notice concerning the modification of the system for the refund of fees: OJ EPO 1997, 115.
Implementation of the fee reform 1997: OJ EPO 1997, 215.
Reduction of fees 1999: OJ EPO 1999, 405.
The list of bank and Giro accounts opened in the name of the European Patent Organisation is printed at the end of each issue of the Official Journal.
4. Other notices concerning fees and prices
Claims incurring fees where the application includes more than one set of claims: OJ EPO 1985, 347.
Notice dated 1 October 2001 concerning the introduction of the euro: OJ EPO 2001, 524.
5. Information concerning Euro-PCT applications (EPO as designated or elected Office)
European search fee waived if the international search report has been drawn up by the EPO, the Austrian Patent Office, the Swedish Patent Office or the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office: OJ EPO 1979, 4, 50 and 248; 1995, 511.
Reduction of the European search fee if the international search report has been drawn up by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Japanese Patent Office, the Russian Patent Office, the Australian Patent Office, the Chinese Patent Office or the Korean Intellectual Property Office: OJ EPO 1979, 368; 1981, 5; 1994, 6 and 691; 2000, 321.
Reduction of the examination fee if the international preliminary examination report has been drawn up by the EPO: OJ EPO 2001, 493.
Guide for applicants - part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO - "Euro-PCT", chapters E and F: OJ EPO 2002, 516.
6. Guidance for international applications (EPO as receiving Office, International Searching Authority or International Preliminary Examining Authority)
Fee calculation sheets: OJ EPO 1992, 388.
Late payment fee under Rule 16bis.2 PCT: OJ EPO 1992, 383.
Guide for applicants - part 2: PCT procedure before the EPO - "Euro-PCT", chapters B, C and D: OJ EPO 2002, 516.
Reduction of the fees for the international search and preliminary examination carried out on an international application in favour of the nationals of certain states: OJ EPO 2000, 446.
Late payment fee under Rule 58bis.2 PCT: OJ EPO 1998, 282.
Refund of fee for international preliminary examination: OJ EPO 2001, 492, 539.
Changes in respect of PCT applications filed as of 1.1.2004: OJ EPO 2003, 574.
Reduction for filing in electronic form: PCT Newsletter 10/2003.
Reduction for filing in electronic form: PCT Newsletter 10/2003.
For technical reasons, the tables embedded in this article are only available in the PDF version.
1 Amendments and additions to the fees guidance published in OJ EPO 11/2002 are indicated by a vertical line alongside.