EPO introducing Micro-entity status regime with reduced fees starting from 1 Apr 2024
March, 2024
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced a new micro-entity regime with reduced fees for those who are eligible, starting from April 1, 2024.
The micro-entity regime applies to the following applicants, irrespective of their nationality or domicile, for the lifetime of a direct European application and/or a national phase entry application entering Europe:
(a) microenterprises;1 2
(b) natural persons;
(c) non-profit organisations, universities or public research organisations.
When there is more than one applicant, each applicant must meet the requirements for micro-entity.
There is also a “previous application filing limit” of no more than 5 applications in the past five years prior preceding, including the application that is receiving the fee reduction.
If eligible, the application may enjoy a 30% fee reduction for fees such as filing fees, search fees, examination fees, designation fees, grant fees and renewal fees. Note that some fees, including extension fees for extension states, validation fees, excess claims or excess page fees, do not get fee reductions.
If you are interested to learn whether you are eligible for micro-entity status before the EPO, feel free to contact us at eip@eipgroup.asia.
This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or a legal opinion on a specific set of facts.
1 The definition of microenterprises is based on the definition in the EU Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003: an enterprise which employs fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover (the amount of money taken in a particular period) or balance sheet (a statement of a company’s assets and liabilities) does not exceed EUR 2 million.
2 Further conditions apply when the enterprise in question involves partner enterprises and/or linked enterprises.