OJ EPO 2008, 195 - International treaties

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the refund of search fees by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority

The President of the European Patent Office,

having regard to the new Agreement between the European Patent Organisa- tion and the International Bureau of WIPO under the PCT that entered into force on 13 December 20071, and in particular Article 5(2)(i) and Annex C, Part II(3) thereof,

having regard to the adjustment of fees and prices with effect from 1 April 20082,

has decided as follows:

Article 1

Refundable amounts

Where the Office acting as International Searching Authority benefits from an earlier search (including a privately commissioned "standard" search3) already made by the Office on an application whose priority is claimed for the international application, the refund shall be as follows:

1 OJ EPO 2007, 617.

2 See Decision of the Administrative Council of 14 December 2007 amending the Rules relating to Fees, OJ EPO 2008, 5, and the Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 revising the Office's fees and expenses, OJ EPO 2008, 202.

3 As from 1 September 2007 the EPO has ceased to perform standard and special searches, OJ EPO 2007, 477.

Article 2

Refund rate

If the EPO can base its search report wholly on the earlier search, the amounts of a full refund mentioned in Article 1 apply.

If the EPO can base its search partly on the earlier search, the amounts of a partial refund mentioned in Article 1 apply.

Article 3

Criteria for refund and refund procedure

The criteria determining the applicable refund rate (full or partial) and the refund procedure shall be governed by the Notice from the President of the European Patent Office dated 31 January 2008 concerning the criteria for refund of search fees by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority (OJ EPO 2008, 200).

Article 4

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on 1 April 2008.

The present Decision replaces the Notice from the President dated 30 November 2003 (OJ EPO 2003, 631) as last amended by the Notice from the President dated 14 July 2007 (OJ EPO 2007, Special Edition No. 3, N.3.).

Done at Munich, 31 January 2008

Alison Brimelow President

References: articl2;

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EPC Rules relating to Fees

Offical Journal of the EPO