THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE The European Patent Office has announced that, as of 1-Jul-2016, applicants will be able to benefit from a 100% refund on their examination fee for any application they withdraw, or which is refused or deemed withdrawn, before substantive examination has begun. Previously such refunds were limited to just 75% of the fee. The Office will inform applicants at least two months in advance of the date on which it intends to start substantive examination. Applicants intending to withdraw their applications can be confident that with an effective withdrawal before the communicated date, they will benefit from the full fee refund, since the Office commits not to start examination before that date. Further information on this matter can be found on the EPO’s website.