Decisions and notices

Here you can access EPO decisions and notices related to refunds and reductions for users.

Refund of international search fee 

Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 15 January 2024 concerning the refund of the international search fee by the EPO acting as International Searching Authority
(OJ EPO 2024, A7)

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 9 January 2009 concerning the criteria for refund of search fees 
(OJ EPO 2009, 99)

Reduction in international search and preliminary examination fees

Decision of the Administrative Council of 12 December 2019 concerning the reduction in the fees for the international search and the international preliminary examination carried out on international applications filed by nationals of certain states (CA/D13/19)
(OJ EPO 2020, A4)

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 3 July 2024 concerning the reduction of the fees for the international search and the international preliminary examination carried out on international applications in favour of nationals of certain states – revised list of states
(OJ EPO 2024, A69)

Reduction in European supplementary search fee

Decision of the Administrative Council of 14 December 2023 amending the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention and the Rules relating to Fees, and adjusting the amount of the reduction in the fee for the supplementary European search where the international or supplementary international search report was drawn up by one of the European International Searching Authorities (CA/D 16/23)
(OJ EPO 2024, A3)

Decision of the Administrative Council of 13 December 2017 abrogating its decision CA/D 10/05 concerning cases where the search fee for the supplementary European search is to be reduced (CA/D 16/17)
(OJ EPO 2018, A3)

Notice from the European Patent Office dated 29 March 2024 concerning search and examination fees
(OJ EPO 2024, A33)