R.103 EPC Reimbursement of appeal fees

(1)
The appeal fee shall be reimbursed in full 
(a)
in the event of interlocutory revision or where the Board of Appeal deems an appeal to be allowable, if such reimbursement is equitable by reason of a substantial procedural violation, or  
(b)
if the appeal is withdrawn before the filing of the statement of grounds of appeal and before the period for filing that statement has expired. 
(2)
The appeal fee shall be reimbursed at 75% if, in response to a communication from the Board of Appeal indicating its intention to start substantive examination of the appeal, the appeal is withdrawn within two months of notification of that communication. 
(3)
The appeal fee shall be reimbursed at 50% if the appeal is withdrawn after expiry of the period under paragraph 1(b), provided withdrawal occurs:
(a)
if a date for oral proceedings has been set, within one month of notification of a communication issued by the Board of Appeal in preparation for these oral proceedings; 
(b)
if no date for oral proceedings has been set, and the Board of Appeal has issued a communication inviting the appellant to file observations, before expiry of the period set by the Board for filing observations; 
(c)
in all other cases, before the decision is issued. 
(4)
The appeal fee shall be reimbursed at 25% 
(a)
if the appeal is withdrawn after expiry of the period under paragraph 3(a) but before the decision is announced at oral proceedings;
(b)
if the appeal is withdrawn after expiry of the period under paragraph 3(b) but before the decision is issued;
(c)
if any request for oral proceedings is withdrawn within one month of notification of the communication issued by the Board of Appeal in preparation for the oral proceedings, and no oral proceedings take place. 
(5)
The appeal fee shall be reimbursed under only one of the above provisions. Where more than one rate of reimbursement applies, reimbursement shall be at the higher rate. 
(6)
The department whose decision is impugned shall order the reimbursement if it revises its decision and considers reimbursement equitable by reason of a substantial procedural violation. In all other cases, matters of reimbursement shall be decided by the Board of Appeal. 
 
[ Art. 109 111 ]
[ 121 ]
See decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/03 (Annex I).
[ 122 ]
Amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 14/19 of 12.12.2019 (OJ EPO 2020, A5), which entered into force on 01.04.2020.

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2016/e/r103.html

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

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