New Fees at the EPO (09.07.2008)

The EPO changes its fee schedule in two steps. The first change has become effective on April 1, 2008, the second will follow on April 1, 2009. While many changes are not substantial, the two most important ones are a raise in the claim fees and the introduction of page fees.

Before April 1, 2008, each claim above 10 claims was charged with EUR 45,-. From April 1, 2008, each claim above 15 costs EUR 200,- (while the first 15 claims remain free of fees). This drastic increase is meant to have the applicants concentrate on the essentials of the invention.

From April 1, 2009, EPO will introduce another fee parameter for the claim fees. The 51st and each following claim will be charged with EUR 500,-! Quite apparently, EPO intends to block claim excesses (sometimes going into the hundreds).

EPO follows the same strategy by introducing a page fee for each page of the application above 35, starting on April 1, 2009. The respective amount will be EUR 12 per page (compared to EUR 10 per page for PCT applications).

Back to news overview