Amendments of regulations before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)

In the months of May and July 2022, some amendments relevant for practice before the DPMA will enter into force. The most important ones in brief:

(1) Increase of renewal fees for German patents (entry into force: 1 July 2022).
The patent fees for annual renewals will be moderately increased with due dates from July 2022, concerning payments from the 5th renewal fee. The following list shows the old (left column) and the new (right column in brackets) fees in EURO:

Annual fees:

• for the 3rd year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
• for the 4th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
• for the 5th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 (100)
• for the 6th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 (150
• for the 7th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 (210)
• for the 8th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 (280)
• for the 9th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 (350)
• for the 10th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 (430)
• for the 11th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470 (540)
• for the 12th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 620 (680)
• for the 13th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 760 (830)
• for the 14th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910 (980)
• for the 15th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,060 (1,130)
• for the 16th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,230 (1,310)
• for the 17th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,410 (1,490)
• for the 18th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,590 (1,670)
• for the 19th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,760 (1,840)
• for the 20th year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,940 (2,030)

Surcharge for late payment of the annual fee . . 50

(2) Extension of the time limit for entering the German national phase in PCT applications (entry into force: 1 May 2022)
The time limit for entering the German national phase in PCT applications is extended from 30 to 31 months from the filing or priority date. This gives more time to pay the fee for the initiation of the national phase at the DPMA and, if necessary, to submit the translation of the application in German. This is now also a welcome harmonisation with the corresponding 31-month time limit for the entering the regional phase before the European Patent Office (EPO).

(3) Conduct of hearings and oral proceedings by video (entry into force: 1 May 2022)
In patent, utility model, trade mark and design procedures before the DPMA, the possibility to participate in hearings and oral proceedings by video transmission will be opened. However, the possibility to participate in on-site personal hearings instead will continue to exist

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team. Dr Andreas Oser, LL.M. (office@pruefer.eu)