Changes at OEPM

Among the changes at OEPM for 2013 are new fees, forms, publications and, above all, information leaflets and the digital publication of Utility Models.

Fees
The OEPM did not plan to change its fees for 2013. However, they will be affected by the forthcoming General State Budget Law, which is expected to bring about an increase of 1%. The change will be made when the law is passed.

Forms
As from 1 January 2013, the standard forms used to date for payment in person will be replaced. For payment in person in any branch of La Caixa it will be necessary to take the form from the OEPM website for both fees and public prices. These forms can be downloaded in 'Utilities' section.

Leaflets
The OEPM has translated and adapted four leaflets from the European Patent Office (EPO) relating to sectors of special interest for innovation and technological development:

• Nanotechnology and patents: searching for inventions in the nanotechnology sector in patent data bases, and specific aspects to be taken into account when making an application for a nanotechnology patent to the European Patent Office.
• How to patent life. European standards and norms for patenting biotechnological inventions.
• Clean energy and patents: searching for technological inventions in the field of clean energy in the European Patent Office’s patent data bases.
• How to patent software. Standards and norms at the European Patent Office.

These new leaflets can be consulted in 'Publications' section.

Digital publication
Finally, over 80,000 Utility Models for which applications were made between 1940 and 1968 have now been published in digital form. They can be directly accessed via the OEPM website, in the section on 'Digitalised files', or indirectly by searching in the Spanish patent and utility model data base, ‘INVENES’, by pressing on the link to search for the digital file you wish to consult.

Many of the inventions included in this collection might be of great interest as a source of creativity and information.

Some of the best-known examples to be found here include:

• The floor mop
• The Rafael Marquina vinegar cruet
• The handle for Loewe suitcases
• The classic tin-opener by Valle Armesto