Annuities
Annual maintenance fees are due on the day and month of the filing date in every year in advance. The first payment must be effected when the application is published. The amount of the annuities is relatively low in the first 3 years and increases remarkably form the 4th year.
The annuities may be paid within 3 months from the due date without fine. 50 % surcharge is due from the 4th to 6th month. If the annuity is not paid within the grace period of six months from the due date, the application becomes abandoned.
If an application has been abandoned due to non-payment of the annual maintenance fee, the applicant may file a request for restoration. This request should be filed within three months following the last day of the sixth month from the due date, and it should be accompanied by the payment of the fee with 100 % surcharge.
If the applicant is the inventor, the filing and search fee, the examination fee, the granting fee and the annuities are reduced, provided that no foreign priority has been claimed.
|
