European patent - Filing of translations and reduction of fees

According to the Rule 6 of the European Patent Office (EPO)  Implementing Regulations,

 

(1)

A translation under Article 14, paragraph 2 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) ,(regulating general translation requirements at EPO) shall be filed within two months of filing the European patent application.

(2)

A translation under Article 14, paragraph 4, EPC (regulating EPO translation requirements for Natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business within a EPO Contracting State having a language other than English, French or German as an official language, and nationals of that State who are resident abroad ) shall be filed within one month of filing the document. This shall also apply to requests under Article 105a EPC (regulating request for limitation or revocation). Where the document is a notice of opposition or appeal, or a statement of grounds of appeal, or a petition for review, the translation may be filed within the period for filing such a notice or statement or petition, if that period expires later.

(3)

Where a person referred to in Article 14, paragraph 4 EPC, files a European patent application or a request for examination in a language admitted in that provision, the filing fee or examination fee shall be reduced in accordance with the EPO Rules relating to Fees.

(4)

The reduction referred to in paragraph 3 of this Rule, shall be available for:
(a)

small and medium-sized enterprises; 
(b)

natural persons; or
(c)

non-profit organisations, universities or public research organisations.

(5)

For the purposes of paragraph 4(a) of this Rule, Commission recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 124, p. 36 of 20 May 2003 shall apply.

(6)

An applicant wishing to benefit from the fee reduction referred to in paragraph 3of this Rule shall declare himself to be an entity or a natural person within the meaning of paragraph 4 of this Rule. In case of reasonable doubt as to the veracity of such declaration, the European Patent Office may require evidence.

(7)

In case of multiple applicants, each applicant shall be an entity or a natural person within the meaning of paragraph 4 of this Rule.

 

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services
www.european-patent-registration.com
de.linkedin.com/in/europeanpatentregistration