Fee changes at the EPO and reductions for small applicants

From 1 April 2024, significant fee changes will come into force in the European patent system, based on a comprehensive review by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Office (EPO). These changes aim to simplify the system, drive digitalisation and ensure the financial stability of the EPO. Small companies, natural persons, non-profit organisations, universities and public research institutions that have filed fewer than five applications in the last five years will receive a 30% reduction on all main fees in the patent grant procedure. In addition, application and examination fees are reduced if applications are filed in an official language other than German, English or French, and there is a lump sum to compensate for translation costs for the Unitary Patent as well as a reduced appeal fee.

To encourage the use of the MyEPO Portfolio online service, fees for its users will be abolished and five rarely used fees will be eliminated. Despite the introduction of moderate fee increases to partially offset inflation, the overall adjustment to procedural fees and internal annual fees remains below the rate of inflation, resulting in an overall decrease in internal annual fees since 2016. In addition, no automatic inflation adjustment is planned for 2025, which deviates from normal practice.