OBI announces the following modifications of its procedures:

• “Unregistered”

This modification deals with those instances where the publication procedure of the European Patent Office has proceeded to publish a patent while the registration of the patent application in Greece is delayed and the patent’s renewal fees for Greece are due within a time period shorter than the time period for the corresponding registration of the patent application.

OBI will accept payment of a patent’s renewal fees only under the condition that a patent registration application has been filed and a corresponding patent application number has been issued.  This patent application number is necessary for the classification of the renewal fees collected.  It is therefore necessary to pay the patent application fee and obtain a patent registration number prior to the payment of any renewal fees.

• Fee Collection Receipts

According to regulations in effect, fee collection receipts issued by OBI for the registration of patent registration applications will only be issued in the name of the patent beneficiary /(ies). 

The above modifications come into effect as of 1 August 2010.