Apply for a patent

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

Payment of the application fee: within 3 months of receipt of the application. Without payment, the application is considered withdrawn.

Submission of the technical description, the patent claims and, if applicable, the drawings: together with the application

Submission of the abstract and the designation of the inventor: within 15 months of the filing date

Filing the request for examination: 7 years from the filing date. Renewal fees must be paid from the third patent year.

Payment of the search request fee: within 3 months of receipt of the search request

Payment of the examination request fee: within 3 months of receipt of the examination request

Opposition to the grant of the patent: within 9 months of publication of the grant of the patent in the Patent Gazette

Payment of the renewal fee: unsolicited at the beginning of the third and each subsequent year, calculated from the filing date. If you do not pay the renewal fee on time or in full, the patent will lapse.

How long does it take to process

2-3 years typical processing time if you submit the examination application within the first 4 months after registration, pay the examination fee and have not applied for an extension.

What are the costs?

20 EUR - 40 EUR.
The application fee (electronic) for up to 10 claims is EUR 40.00.
The fee for each additional claim is EUR 20.00.
300 EUR: Advance search without registration
350 EUR: Examination fee without prior search request
30 EUR - 60 EUR.
The application fee (paper form) for up to 10 claims is EUR 60.00.
The fee for each additional claim is EUR 30.00.
70 EUR - 1,940 EUR: Annual fees from the third patent year
150 EUR: Examination fee according to search request