1903.02    Payment of International Fees

In addition to the fees required by the USPTO, there are international fees for processing international applications and registrations required by the IB.  For international applications, subsequent designations, and requests to record changes of ownership of international registrations that are filed through TEAS, fees may be paid either directly to the IB or through the USPTO.  37 C.F.R. §7.7(a).  Applicants/holders permitted to file on paper (see TMEP §1902.02(a)) must pay all international fees directly to the IB in Swiss currency.  37 C.F.R. §7.7(c); see Regs. Rules 34–38 (regarding payment of fees).  There is a fee calculator and a schedule of fees on the IB website at https://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/.

The IB will accept the following forms of payment:

  • Debit to a current account established with the IB;
  • Payment into the Swiss postal check account or to any of the specified bank accounts of the IB; and
  • Credit card where, in the context of an electronic communication, an electronic interface for online payment has been made available by the IB.

See Guide to International Registration, B.I.12.08.05;  Admin. Instrs. §19.

Effective January 1, 2008, the IB does not accept banker’s checks as a mode of payment.   See Change in Practice Regarding Acceptance by USPTO of Bank Checks for Fees Payable to the International Bureau, 1328 OG 199  (Mar. 25, 2008); see also IB Information Notice No. 20/2007, on the IB website at https://www.wipo.int/edocs/madrdocs/en/2007/madrid_2007_20.doc.

The conditions for opening, using, and closing a current account with the IB are posted on the IB website at https://www.wipo.int/finance/en/current_account/index.html.  The IB has introduced an e-payment service on its website for payment of fees notified in irregularity notices and other WIPO communications concerning the Madrid System.  Users are invited to make payments by credit card (American Express®, Mastercard®, Visa®) or through a WIPO Current Account.  See the WIPO website at https://webaccess.wipo.int/epayment/  for further information about e-payment.

Questions concerning payment of international fees should be directed to the IB by telephone at 41 22 338 8686 or by filing an inquiry using the Contact Madrid form at https://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/.  The USPTO cannot assist applicants/holders in calculating the appropriate international fees or in selecting a method of payment of fees to the IB.

Failure to send a fee to the IB before the IB receives a form could result in issuance of a notice of irregularity by the IB.   See TMEP §§1902.02(i), 1902.08(c), 1906.01(a)(ii).