EPO official fees increasing only one year after the previous raise
20 February 2023
The Official Journal of the European Patent Office (EPO) published that the official fees for European patent applications will be increasing on April 1, 2023 (see here).
The majority of the fees are increasing on average with 5 %. The exact amounts of the new fees can be found here.
Before April 1, 2023, the old fees still apply and when requested our office may make early fee payments to still take advantage before the increase takes effect.
For more information, please contact De Clercq & partners at info@dcp-ip.com
Moldova to become the 40th EPC contracting state on 1 June 2026
On 1 June 2026, the European Patent Organisation (EPO) will grow to 40 contracting states with the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Convention (EPC).
Update on the G1/25 Enlarged Board of Appeal referral on description amendments
January 30 marked the deadline set by the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBoA) to file written statements regarding referral G1/25. This deadline concerned the parties to the proceedings, third parties not taking part in the proceedings (also known as amicus curiae) and the President of the European Patent Office (EPO). You can read the background information relating to the G1/25 referral in our article of August 5, 2025 here.
These editions will take effect on April 1, 2026. Simultaneously, the EPO opened its annual public consultation and will accept feedback until April 3, 2026. The SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines will review the contributions at its May 12, 2026 meeting and consider them for the 2027 revision cycle.
Using music in public? Not as complicated as banana language but make sure you don’t slip.
Music is one of humanity’s greatest inventions and one of its most powerful means of expression. A fitting song can truly transform an experience, whether it is strolling around at a Christmas fair, enjoying a delicious meal in a restaurant, having the biggest dance party on your town’s square, or delivering the performance of your life at the Olympics. Music creates atmosphere, evokes emotion and forges collective memories. Yet behind this universal language lies a carefully structured legal framework designed to protect the creators who make such experiences possible.
