Legal basis for levying renewal fees

Art. 41 PA

Art. 18, 118a PO

Enquiries re renewal fees and patent register:

Tel. (+ 41 31) 322 49 46,

322 49 09

Fax (+ 41 31) 325 25 26

(patent register: www.swissreg.ch)

1 Amount of fees

from the 5th up to the 20th year from date of filing, for each year: CHF 420

plus any charges levied by banks

Fees Reg. (Annex III)

2 (a) Due date (in the patent year concerned) (b) Time limit for payment (without surcharge)*

(a) last day of month in which the date of filing occurred

(b) 3 months from due date

Art. 18(2), (3) PO

* For first renewal fee to be paid, see Art. 141(2) EPC.

3 Period of grace for payment of fees (with surcharge) (a) duration (b) surcharge

(a) 3 months after expiry of time limit under column 2(b)

(b) CHF 200

Art. 18(3) PO

Fees Reg. (Annex III)

4 Communication of a reminder in cases of non-payment (a) provided for (b) date of despatch

(a) Yes, but reminders are not sent abroad.

(b) 8 weeks before expiry of period of grace; requests are not sent abroad.

Art. 18d PO

5 Restitutio in integrum (a) provided for (b) time limit for submitting application

(a) Yes

(b) 2 months after removal of obstacle; not later than one year from expiry of the non-observed time limit

Further processing possible

Art. 46a(4) PA

Art. 47 PA

6 Appointment of a national professional representative for (a) payment of fees (b) communication of a reminder of non-payment (c) proceedings in respect of restitutio in integrum

(a) No

(b) No, but an address for service in Switzerland/Liechtenstein must be given.

(c) Yes

Art. 13 PA

Art. 18d PO

7 Information regarding lapse of patent in cases of non-payment of renewal fees

Communication to proprietor of patent

Entry in Register of Patents

Publication in Patent Bulletin

Art. 15 PA

Art. 18b, 94, 117 PO