PCT Information Update
BY Belarus (fees)
The National Center of Intellectual Property (Belarus) has notified the International Bureau (IB) that, with effect from 1 January 2025, the amounts in Belarusian roubles (BYN) of the following fees, payable to the Office as receiving Office, are:
Transmittal fee:................................................................................ BYN 102.9
Fee for requesting restoration of the right of priority:............... BYN 210
With effect from the same date, there will also be changes to some of the components of the national fee, payable to the Office as designated (or elected) Office, as follows:
For a patent:
Filing fee:......................................................................................................... BYN 102.9
- Claim fee for each independent claim in excess of one: ........................ BYN 44.1
Examination fee:............................................................................................. BYN 499.8
- Claim examination fee for each independent claim in excess of one.... BYN 294
Annual fee for the third year:........................................................................ BYN 102.9
For a utility model:
Filing fee:......................................................................................................... BYN 205.8
Claim fee for each independent claim in excess of one:........................... BYN 102.9
The Office has also notified a change in the conditions for exemptions, reductions or refunds of the national fee which are now as follows:
- with effect from 1 January 2025, the examination fee is reduced by 50% where an international search report or an international preliminary examination report has been established and submitted to the Office.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (BY) and National Chapter, Summary (BY))
EP European Patent Office (discontinuation of EPO Web-Form Filing)
With effect from 1 January 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) has notified the IB that it will discontinue EPO Web-Form Filing and will no longer accept international applications and other documents and correspondence relating to international applications filed using EPO Web-Form Filing.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (EP))
IB International Bureau (fees)
With effect from 1 January 2025, there will be a change in the equivalent amounts in EUR and USD of the following fees payable to the IB as receiving Office, as follows:
Transmittal fee:.................................................. EUR 107 USD 117
Fee for priority document:............................... EUR 53 USD 58
Supplement for airmail:............................ EUR 11 USD [no change]
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (IB))
KZ Kazakhstan (location and mailing address; internet addresses; number of copies of the international application; who can act as agent; fees)
The location and mailing address, and the Internet addresses of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (NIIP) (Kazakhstan) have changed, as follows:
Location and mailing address: Mangilik Yel Avenue 57A
010000 Astana
Kazakhstan
Internet: http://www.qazpatent.kz
http://www.adilet.gov.kz
The Office, as receiving Office, has notified the IB that, for international applications filed on paper, it now requires only one copy of the international application, instead of three.
There has also been a change concerning who can act as agent before the Office as receiving Office, as follows: any natural person resident in Kazakhstan may now act as such.
Furthermore, the Office has notified the IB of changes to the names of components of the national fee as well as the percentage amount of the surcharge payable to it as designated (or elected) Office for a patent and utility model. The text is now as follows:
For patent:
Filing fee and fee for formal examination (must
be paid within the time limit applicable under
PCT Article 22 or 39(1) or within two months
from the date of entry into the national phase.
This time limit can be extended by two months,
provided that a surcharge of 11% is paid. Fees
for electronic and paper filing were amended to
be equal by Order of the Director of the
NIIP No. 254 dated 23 December 2020):........................... KZT 20,320.16
Fee for substantive examination:...................................... KZT 66,959.20
Annual fees for the first three years, per year:................. KZT 20,320.16
For utility model:
Filing fee (must be paid within the time limit
applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1) or
within two months from the date of entry into
the national phase. Fees for electronic and
paper filing were amended to be equal by
Order of the Director of the NIIP No. 254
dated 23 December 2020):................................................. KZT 16,450.56
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes B and C (KZ) and National Chapter, Summary (KZ))
SA Saudi Arabia (fees; information on the requirements of the Office as International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority)
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) has notified the IB that the international filing fee and the fee per sheet over 30, payable to the Office as receiving Office, as well as the handling fee payable to the Office as International Preliminary Examining Authority, will be payable in SAR, instead of USD with effect from 15 December 2024, as indicated in Fee Table I(a).
Consequently, equivalent amounts of the international filing fee and the fee per sheet over 30 payable to the Office have been established in SAR with effect from 15 December 2024. The amounts in SAR of those fees that will be payable from that date, as well as the amounts in SAR of the applicable filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees, as well as the handling fee, are indicated in Fee Table I(a).
Also, information on the requirements of the Office functioning as International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority has been published in the PCT Applicant’s Guide Annexes D and E (SA) and in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) on 21 November 2024 at:
https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/official_notices/index.html
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes C, D and E (SA))
Search fee and other fees relating to the international search (National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO))
As from 19 January 2025, there will be a change in the amount payable in USD for an international search carried out by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The new amount, as well as the equivalent amounts in CHF, EUR, NZD and ZAR are indicated in Fee Table I(b).
Also with effect from 19 January 2025, the amounts of other fees relating to an international search at the USPTO will also change, as follows (the first amount in parentheses is applicable in the case of a filing by a “small entity”, and the second amount in parentheses is applicable in the case of a filing by a “micro entity”):
Additional search fee:.......................................................... USD 2,400 (960) (480)
Fee for copies of documents contained in the file of
the international application (PCT Rule 94.1ter):
For a non-US patent document, per copy:................ USD 27 (27) (27)
Late furnishing fee:............................................................. USD 345 (138) (69)
As from 1 February 2025, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in USD for an international search carried out by the National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil). The new amounts are indicated in Fee Table I(b).
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes D (BR and US))
Preliminary examination fee and other fees relating to international preliminary examination (United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO))
As from 19 January 2025, there will be a change in the amount of the following fees, payable in USD to the USPTO as International Preliminary Examining Authority (the first amount in parentheses is applicable in the case of a filing by a “small entity”, and the second amount in parentheses is applicable in the case of a filing by a “micro entity”; the amounts in square brackets are applicable when the international search was not carried out by the USPTO):
Preliminary examination fee:................................................ USD 705 (282) (141)
[USD 880 (352) (176)]
Additional preliminary examination fee:.............................. USD 705 (282) (141)
Fee for copies of documents contained in the file of
the international application (PCT Rule 94.2):
For a non-US patent document, per copy:.................... USD 27 (27) (27)
Late furnishing fee:................................................................. USD 345 (138) (69)
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex E (US))