1. Scope
This Cookie Policy explains how cookies and similar technologies are used in connection with the EP Validation & Renewal Fee Calculator.
For information about the processing of personal data, please also see the Privacy Policy.
2. Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small files or identifiers stored on a user device. Similar technologies include local storage, session storage, scripts and other mechanisms that store information on, or access information from, a device.
This website uses strictly necessary technical storage at all times. Optional analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4) are used only after you opt in through the on-page consent banner; they are not set by default.
3. Strictly necessary functionality
Information entered into the calculator is processed in the browser while the page is open so that the calculation can be performed and displayed. This is necessary to provide the calculator functionality requested by the user.
The calculator stores your privacy choice in localStorage so the consent banner does not reappear on every visit. No other persistent storage is used by the calculator itself for tracking purposes. Technical cookies may nevertheless be set by the hosting environment or by security infrastructure to deliver the page securely and reliably.
3.1 Cookies and storage actually used
The following table lists the storage entries used by this website. The Google Analytics cookies are set only if you consent through the on-page consent banner.
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
wmw_privacy_preferences_v2 |
localStorage | Stores your cookie / consent choice (analytics on/off) so the banner is not shown again on every visit. Strictly necessary; covered by § 25 Abs. 2 TDDDG. | Until you clear your browser storage (or change the choice in the footer) | WMW (this website) |
_ga |
HTTP cookie | Used by Google Analytics 4 to distinguish visitors. Set only after you click “Accept analytics” or enable analytics in “Customize”. | Up to 24 months | Google Ireland Limited (analytics processor) |
_ga_SHPC68YE9Y |
HTTP cookie | Used by Google Analytics 4 to maintain session state for this property. Set only after consent. | Up to 13 months | Google Ireland Limited (analytics processor) |
| The hosting provider may also set short-lived technical cookies (e.g. PHP session) only if required to serve a request; these are not used for tracking. | ||||
4. External resources and interfaces
The calculator or the surrounding page may connect to external resources. Some are loaded only after consent, others only when the user actively triggers the corresponding action; exchange rates are obtained through this website’s own server:
- Google Analytics 4 (consent based): if you consent through the banner, analytics scripts are loaded from
googletagmanager.comandgoogle-analytics.comand may set the cookies listed in the table above. Your IP address is processed in shortened form. Until consent is given, the script is not loaded and no request is made to Google. See the Privacy Policy section 6.5 for full details on processing, recipients and your rights. - Fonts: served directly from this website (self-hosted). No requests are made to Google Fonts or other third-party font providers.
- EPO OPS: used only when a user actively requests an EP number lookup. The request is forwarded by this website’s own server-side proxy (
ops-proxy.php); the user’s browser does not contact the EPO directly. Renewal fee amounts are contained in the page itself; the calculator has no contact or request form. - Exchange rates: current euro reference rates of the European Central Bank and monthly rates of the European Commission are retrieved by this website’s own server (
fx-rates.php) and cached there. Your browser only contacts this website; no cookies are set and no data about you is passed on. - External link to wmw-patent.de: the “Contact WMW” link in the support panel and footer leads to the English contact form on the WMW firm website. From that point, the privacy and cookie policy of wmw-patent.de applies.
5. Consent and legal basis for device access
Under § 25 Abs. 1 TDDDG and Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, consent is required where information is stored on or accessed from a user device and this is not strictly necessary to provide the service expressly requested by the user. The Google Analytics cookies (_ga, _ga_SHPC68YE9Y) are non-essential and are set only after you opt in through the consent banner or the “Cookie Settings” dialog.
Until you opt in, Google Analytics is not loaded: no cookies are set and no data is sent to Google. The wmw_privacy_preferences_v2 entry that records your choice itself is strictly necessary for honoring that choice and is therefore covered by § 25 Abs. 2 TDDDG.
You can withdraw your consent at any time, with effect for the future, by opening the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer and switching analytics off, or by deleting the wmw_privacy_preferences_v2 entry in your browser’s local storage.
6. Browser controls
You can block or delete cookies and similar storage through your browser settings. Blocking all cookies or scripts may affect the functionality of this website or of external services such as the EPO OPS lookup.
7. Changes
This Cookie Policy may be updated if the calculator, the hosting setup, external services or legal requirements change.