Article 51

1. The European Patent Office may levy fees for any official task or procedure carried out under this Convention.

2. Time limits for the payment of fees other than those fixed by this Convention shall be laid down in the Implementing Regulations.

3. Where the Implementing Regulations provide that a fee shall be paid, they shall also lay down the legal consequences of failure to pay such fee in due time.

4. The Rules relating to Fees shall determine in particular the amounts of the fees and the ways in which they are to be paid.