Pages 570-571

INFORMATION FROM THE CONTRACTING / EXTENSION STATES

SK Slovakia

New fee rates

The Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic (IPO SR) recently informed us that some patent fees have been changed1.

Applicants for and proprietors of European patents with effect in Slovakia are therefore advised that since 1 October 2012 the following rates apply:

1. Publication and making available the translation of the claims or amended translation of the claims to the public under Article 65 EPC: EUR 7

2. The renewal fees and fees for the publication and making available the translation or amended translation of the European patent have remained unchanged (see OJ EPO 2009, 90).

3. Conversion of European patent applications or patents into national patent applications or patents:

(a) If the request for conversion of a European patent application to a national patent application is filed with the IPO SR in accordance with Article 135(2) EPC the applicant is obliged to pay a fee of EUR 20 for each (designated) state.

(b) If the request for conversion of a European patent application to a national patent application is filed with the European Patent Office in accordance with Article 135(3) EPC and transmitted to the IPO SR, the applicant is obliged

(i) to pay a fee of EUR 27 (if the request is filed by an inventor or co-inventors) or EUR 53 (if the request is filed by a person other than an inventor or co-inventors);

(ii) to file a translation of the European patent application into Slovakian.

4. Registering transfers, licences and other rights:

EUR 27 per application for the transfer of a right

EUR 17 per application for a licence

EUR 7 per application for a legal pledge

EPO information brochure "National law relating to the EPC"

Users of this brochure (15th edition) should amend Tables III.B, column 2, VII, column 2, and IX, column 4, accordingly.