The European Patent Office has amended its rules on fee reductions for small entities and introduced a new specific reduction for micro-entities such as universities, public bodies, non-profit organisations, natural persons and micro-enterprises; it applies to small entities of all nationalities.

A new tax reduction scheme for micro-entities introduced by the European Patent Office (EPO), in force as from 1 April 2024, benefits universities, public bodies, non-profit organisations, natural persons and micro-enterprises, the latter defined according to EU legislation as enterprises which employ fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 2 million.

Starting from the same date, existing EPO language-related fee reductions for small entities are also  extended to micro-enterprises.

The new EPO fee reduction scheme for micro-entities

The new fee reduction scheme for micro-entities applies to universities, public bodies, non-profit organizations, natural persons and micro-enterprises, regardless of their nationality and domicile. Small and medium-sized enterprises (larger than a micro-enterprise as defined above) are not eligible for the reduction.

It should be noted that the new reduction scheme does not apply to applicants who have already filed more than four European patent applications in the five years preceding the date of the European patent filing for which the reduction is requested.

The reductions amount to 30% of fees due for:

• filing
• research
• examination
• designation
• grant
• annuities for pending European patent applications.

EPO language-related fee reduction extended to micro-businesses

The EPO already provides for a 30% language-related fee reduction on filing and examination fees for small entities which have their residence or principal place of business in European Patent Convention contracting states and file a European patent application or request for examination in an official language of that state other than English, French or German.

This fee reduction is extended, as from 1 April 2024, to micro-enterprises as defined above; it is also applicable to small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, public bodies, non-profit organizations and natural persons.

Combined reductions

It is interesting to note that if a European patent applicant meets the requirements for both the new fee reduction scheme for micro-entities and extant language-related reduction, it is possible to combine the discounts, thus reducing some EPO fees by about 50%.

Related content

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 25 January 2024 concerning fee-related support measures for small entities