Russian Federation – Official fee increase from October 5, 2024

By the Decree No. 1278 of September 18, 2024, published on September 27, 2024, the Russian Patent Office (Rospatent) has announced that it will increase its official fees as of October 5, 2024.

While only a few fees remain unchanged, most fees are increasing by 10 to 20 percent and more, in particular there is a significant increase in the annuity fees.

Also, the 30 percent reduction in fees for online filing has been abolished.

In addition to the fee increase, Rospatent has announced significant structural changes to the way in which annuity fee payments are to be effected.

Annuity fees for the 1st to 5th year have to be paid in a lump sum together with the fee for grant/registration within two months from the date of the decision to grant/registration.

The subsequent annuity fees can no longer be paid on a yearly basis but must be paid together in a lump sum for periods of five years, i.e. the subsequent 6th to 10th annuity fees must be paid together in one lump sum, the 11th to 15th annuity fees, etc.

This change applies to annuity payments for patents, utility models and designs, wherein for designs filed after January 1, 2015, the payment for five-year periods had already been introduced earlier.

The Decree further states that, if at the time of payment of an annuity fee, the fee for a five-year period has not been paid in full, the patentee is requested to pay the fee for the five-year period minus the fees already paid. This is important to consider particularly for annuity fee payments made in the initial period after the above change has come into effect.