< Back to latest news & events

UPC

Unitary Patent Renewal Fees – EPO adopts lowest proposed fees

June 2015

The EPO Select Committee (set up to supervise the EPO’s activities related to the tasks entrusted to it in the context of unitary patent protection) has endorsed the “True Top 4” level of proposal renewal fees applicable to the unitary patent. The EPO reports that the proposal was adopted with the required ¾ majority.

The True Top 4 proposal was the lowest of the proposed fee sets and corresponds to the total sum of the renewal fees currently paid for the four most frequently validated countries (Germany, France, UK and the Netherlands), and contains a clause for possible revision after four years. Throughout the process of negotiation feedback from users of the system, who often only validate and pay renewal in 3 states, has always been to keep UP renewals fees as low as possible.

EPO President Benoît Battistelli said: “I am confident that today’s decision strikes a positive balance, ensuring that the fees represent a real cost saving to the user and also providing a healthy operating budget for the EPO and the participating Member States. This is another major step in achieving truly uniform patent protection in Europe.”

Decisions on distribution of renewals fees between the Member States, amongst other things, should be finalised during the autumn.

Latest updates

A new dawn for European patents and patent litigation - 1 June 2023

Just as the UPC’s sunrise phase has ended, a new dawn is breaking for European patents and patent litigation.  After many years of anticipation, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and …

Read article
Event - 29th June 2023

Dublin IP and R&D Summit

HGF are sponsors of the Dublin IP and R&D Summit on the 29th of June at the Dublin Convention Centre. Covering two days, the conference will host panels and stand-alone …

Event details

EU Draft legislation on SPCs released

On 27 April 2023 the EU published 4 draft proposals regarding SPCs. Two of these proposals are completely new and propose the creation of Unitary SPCs: COM(2023)222 for medicinal product …

Read article

Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2023

After months of research, Managing IP has published the IP Stars list for 2023. HGF is delighted to have 23 attorneys from England, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands and Germany recognised and …

Read article

Milan confirmed as third seat of Central Division

The Italian Foreign Office has published a press release announcing an agreement with France and Germany to set up a branch of the Central Division in Milan.  This agreement will …

Read article

Fashionably IP Podcast Series 3 – exploring hot topics in the world of fashion and intellectual property

We are delighted to launch series 3 of our Fashionably IP Podcast where we will be looking at important hot topics in the world of fashion and intellectual property. In …

Read article