How are European patent maintenance fees paid?

How are European patent maintenance fees paid?

The fee can be paid using a deposit account, credit card or bank transfer. To pay via a deposit account requires a deposit account to be set up with the EPO as well as a registered Smart Card (a secure connection through a card issued by the EPO) and must use the online filing services.

How much does it cost to search the EPO?

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How much does a European patent cost?

The costs of preparing and filing the application and the procedure up until the granting of the patent can vary considerably, depending on the complexity and length of the procedure. For a European patent-granting procedure, these costs are usually in the region of 20,000 euros.

What do you mean by annuity?

An annuity is a fixed amount of money that you will get each year for the rest of your life. An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that requires the insurer to make payments to you, either immediately or in the future.

What is an EPO payment?

• Drawer-issued EPO: An electronically-created order, issued by the drawer of the order, with all other characteristics of a check. The drawer’s “signature” is typically applied electronically by the drawer upon creating the item.

What is a designation fee?

Designation fee; time limits. The designation of a contracting state is subject to payment of a designation fee. A single joint designation fee is payable for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The designation fees are deemed paid for all contracting states upon payment of seven times the amount of one designation fee.

How much does a European patent opposition cost?

An opposition fee of €815 (about US $933) must be paid within the opposition period. However, the likely overall cost is much greater than this.

How long do EU patents last?

20 years
How long does a granted patent stay valid? The maximum term of a European patent is 20 years from its filing date. The patent may lapse earlier if the annual renewal fees are not paid or if the patent is revoked by the patentee or after opposition proceedings.

Are international patents worth it?

The benefit of worldwide patent protection is that potential buyers of your company may want protection in foreign countries. The downside to worldwide patent protection is the expense. However, cost-effective ways of preserving the right to worldwide protection and getting patents in foreign countries exist.

When to pay the annuity for a European Patent?

The date of publication of grant of the European Patent must also be taken into account, since, if it was published before the anniversary of the application, and therefore before payment of the annuity, payment should be made at the different national offices. Otherwise, the annuity would have to be paid to the EPO.

What is the surcharge on annuities in Europe?

The government fee component of the surcharge is usually something like 20-50% of the original annuity. Some European agents might charge a bit more to pay the annuity if it’s been missed than if it was paid in time, but again, the difference isn’t usually much.

How much does an annuity cost?

As the annuity fee increases every year, it can get extremely expensive to just keep the application pending. As of April 1, 2010, the first annuity that is paid (usually on the 3rd anniversary of the priority date) is €420 (about $575) and the 10th year annuity is €1420 (about $1,950).

What is the last annuity to pay to the EPO?

The last annuity to be paid to the EPO is the one paid the year in which the grant is published. From this moment onwards, if the holders wish to keep the patent in force in Europe, they must pay annuities in the member States in which they want to get protection.