New Patent Annuity Regulations in Ecuador increased maintenance fees and changed the payment deadlines, annuity number and amount to pay. Changes affect granted patents, new and previously filed applications. It is very important to establish the new rules to avoid the abandonment of the patents.
Changes to Annuity Payment Regulations
On June 1, 2010, the Ecuadorian Patent Office issued Regulation No. 003-2010 CD-IEPI concerning patents which establishes an increase in maintenance fees and modifies the way of calculating the annuities to be paid. The new regulations have left many open-ended questions. Therefore, a formal clarification has been requested to the Ecuadorian Patent Office and they have stated that they will issue further explanations in coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the real issue is how to determine the annuity number, the payment deadline and the amount to pay.
“THE ANNUITY YEAR AND PAYMENT DEADLINE ARE CALCULATED BASED ON THE PCT INTERNATIONAL FILING DATE.”
1) Annuity Number
Under the previous regulations the annuity number was calculated based on the national filing date. Now, annuities are counted from the International Filing Date. Therefore, the annuity year and payment deadline are calculated based on the PCT International Filing Date (month, day, and year).
For example, if a patent entered the national phase in October 2008, then the third annuity would have been due in October 2010. However, we now look to the International Filing Date which is March 2006. This means that the sixthannuity is due in March 2011. In this particular case there would be no payment in 2010 because before June 2010, the payment was due October 2010, and after the new regulations, the payment is due in March. No back fees are required. (See chart below)
2) Payment Deadline
“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REVIVE A
PATENT AFTER ITS ABANDONMENT”
As the annuity number, the deadline is established by the International Filing Date. In Ecuador, annuities are paid a year in advance and are due by the end of the PCT file month. Article 4 of the new regulation in accordance with article 80 of the Andean Decision #486 provides an additional 6 month grace period. If an annuity has not been paid by the end of the grace period, the application or granted patent is automatically deemed abandoned. It is not possible to revive the patent after its abandonment.
Previously filed and granted patents:
The changes also affect granted patents and PCT applications that were filed in Ecuador before June 1, 2010. As a general rule, if the previous deadline to pay the annuity was before June, the payment for that year was done per the old regulations. If the old deadline is after June, then the new legislation applies, and the new deadline must be taken into account. This can mean that no annuity is due on that year.
“AS A GENERAL RULE, IF THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE TO PAY THE ANNUITY WAS BEFORE JUNE, THE PAYMENT FOR THAT YEAR WAS DONE PER THE OLD REGULATIONS. IF THE OLD DEADLINE IS AFTER JUNE, THEN THE NEW LEGISLATION APPLIES, AND THE NEW DEADLINE MUST BE USED.”
Cambios en el reglamento de pago de anualidades
En junio de 2010 el Instituto Ecuatoriano de Propiedad Intelectual (IEPI) aprobó el Reglamento No. 003-2010 CD-IEPI que establece un incremento en las tasas de mantenimiento y modifica la forma de cálculo de las anualidades de patentes. El nuevo reglamento ha dejado dudas. Por esta razón se ha solicitado un pronunciamiento formal al IEPI, y han señalado que harán una aclaración en las próximas semanas.
Mientras tanto, los asuntos más importantes son: determinar el número de anualidad, la fecha límite para el pago, y el monto a cancelar.
“EL AÑO DE ANUALIDAD Y LA FECHA LÍMITE PARA EL PAGO SE CALCULAN EN BASE A LA SOLICITUD INTERNACIONAL PCT. ”
1) Numero de Anualidad
De acuerdo al reglamento anterior, el número de anualidad se calculaba en base a la fecha de solicitud nacional. Ahora, las anualidades se cuentan desde la fecha de solicitud internacional. De este modo, el año de anualidad y la fecha límite para el pago se calculan en base a la solicitud internacional PCT (mes, año, día)
Por ejemplo, para una patente que entra en fase nacional en octubre de 2008, la tercera anualidad hubiera tenido que pagarse en octubre de 2010. Sin embargo, ahora se debe tomar en cuenta la fecha de solicitud internacional que es marzo de 2006. Esto significa que la sextaanualidad vence en marzo de 2011. En este caso en particular no habría pago en el año 2010, debido a que antes de junio de 2010 el vencimiento era en octubre de 2010, y ahora de acuerdo al nuevo reglamento el pago vence en marzo. No se deben tasas retroactivas. (Favor ver el gráfico abajo)
2) Fecha de Vencimiento
“NO ES POSIBLE REVIVIR UNA
PATENTE LUEGO DE SU ABANDONO”
Tal como el número de anualidad, la fecha de vencimiento se calcula en base a la solicitud internacional PCT. En Ecuador, las anualidades se pagan por adelantado, y se debe pagar antes del fin de mes de la fecha de solicitud internacional. El Artículo 4 del reglamento, en concordancia con el artículo 80 de la Decisión 486 de la Comunidad Andina otorga un período de gracia de 6 meses adicionales. Si la anualidad no ha sido pagada dentro del plazo, la patente se abandona automáticamente. No es posible revivir una patente luego de su abandono.
Solicitudes y patentes concedidas previamente:
Los cambios también afectan a patentes concedidas y solicitudes PCT que entraron en fase nacional antes del 1 de junio de 2010. Como regla general, si el pago anterior vencía antes de junio, el pago se lo debió haber realizado en base al reglamento anterior. Si el vencimiento antiguo era después de junio, entonces aplica el nuevo reglamento y se debe tomar en cuenta la nueva fecha límite. Esto puede significar que en ciertos casos no se paga anualidad de ese año.
“COMO REGLA GENERAL, SI EL PAGO ANTERIOR VENCÍA ANTES DE JUNIO, EL PAGO SE LO DEBE HABER REALIZADO EN BASE AL REGLAMENTO ANTERIOR. SI EL VENCIMIENTO ANTIGUO ERA DESPUÉS DE JUNIO, ENTONCES APLICA EL NUEVO REGLAMENTO Y SE DEBE TOMAR EN CUENTA LA NUEVA FECHA LÍMITE. ”
Aquí algunos ejemplos:
SCENARIO
NATIONAL FILE DATE
Fecha de solicitud nacional
PCT FILE DATE
Fecha de solicitud internacional
RESULT
Resultado
National Filing month before June / PCT Filing month after June
Mes de fase nacional antes de junio / mes de PCT después de junio
April 1, 2009
November 1, 2007
2010-2011 annuity paid in April 2010.
Next annuity due in Nov. 2011.
Anualidad del 2010-2011 pagada en abril.
Siguiente anualidad vence en Nov. de 2011.
National Filing month before June / PCT Filing month before June
Mes de fase nacional antes de junio / mes de PCT antes de junio
April 1, 2009
May 1, 2007
2010-2011 annuity paid in April 2010.
Next annuity due in May 2011.
Anualidad del 2010-2011 pagada en abril.
Siguiente anualidad vence en mayo de 2011.
National Filing month after June / PCT Filing month before June
Mes de fase nacional después de junio / mes de PCT antes de junio
July 1, 2009
May 1, 2007
No annuity due in 2010.
Next annuity due in May 2011.
No se debe anualidad en 2010.
Siguiente anualidad vence en mayo de 2011.
National File month after June / PCT Filing month after June
Mes de fase nacional después de junio / mes de PCT después de junio
July 1, 2009
November 1, 2007
2010-2011 annuity paid in November 2010.
Anualidad de 2010-2011 pagada en noviembre de 2010.
National Filing month after June / PCT Filing month after June
Mes de fase nacional después de junio / mes de PCT después de junio
November 1, 2009
July 1, 2007
2010-2011 annuity paid in July 2010.
Anualidad de 2010-2011 pagada en julio de 2010.
As the chart shows, there are different scenarios with different outcomes. Therefore, it is important to establish the new deadlines correctly, considering that they can be before or after the previous national deadlines. A meticulous case by case study is needed, and the records, databases and docketing systems must be updated accordingly.
3) Amount to Pay
Once the annuity number and deadline are established (from the international filing date), the amount to pay is determined by the new enacted fees according to the following chart:
– Annuity 1 – 2 US $104
– Annuity 3 – 7 US $148
– Annuity 8 – 11 US $228
– Annuity 12 -14 US $320
– Annuity 15 – 17 US $428
– Annuity 18 – 20 US $572
If payment is made during the 6 month grace period, a 5% monthly charge is added per Art. 4 of the Regulation.
New patent applications:
When filing a new patent application, the applicant has to pay in advance for all the past years’ annuities. Given the 31 months allowed to enter the national phase in Ecuador, the applicant must sometimes pay up to four annuities at once.
Payments in advance:
If the annuity agent paid more than one maintenance fee in advance, prior to the enactment of the new regulation, an adjustment to the amount paid may be required so that the annuity meets the new established fee. This policy of the IEPI is illegal in our opinion. They must respect existing advance payments.
Conclusion
This new regulation will make it easier for a patent owner or applicant to keep track of the annuities since they are calculated from the International Filing Date.
Unfortunately the confusion brought by these new regulations, especially during the first year has caused patents to expire due to skipped or incomplete payments. In reviewing our personal cases we have noticed that there is no clear understanding of the new regulations. It is important to clarify the annuity number, the amount due and the deadline along with the annuity agent to avoid unduly expirations. The patent team at Bermeo & Bermeo has the experience to organize and maintain your patent portfolio and is ready to assist you.
Bermeo & Bermeo Law Firm
November 2010
