Summary of Maintenance Fee Regulations
Let’s talk about patent maintenance fees! From the date of patent grant announcement, you need to pay maintenance fees three times, respectively at 3.5 years, 7.5 years, and 11.5 years after grant. The first maintenance fee is due between the 3rd and 3.5th years after grant, the second between the 7th and 7.5th years, and the third between the 11th and 11.5th years, all within normal payment periods.
What if you’re late in paying?
In case you forget to pay, don’t worry, you have a 6-month grace period to make up for it, but you’ll need to pay an additional late fee. If payment is still not made after 6 months, you’ll need to submit a request and pay a request fee, the due maintenance fees, and the late fee.
Special Treatment for Design Patents
When it comes to design patents in the United States, no maintenance fees are required after grant, and the patent remains valid until expiration. Wow, that’s some special treatment!
Although patent maintenance fees might seem a bit complicated, as long as you remember the rules and don’t forget the payment deadlines, you can securely protect your patents! Here’s a guide to retrieving U.S. patent maintenance fees. Why not save it now?
How to Search
- Website: USPTO-Maintenance Fees: https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees/
- Search Method: You need to input both the application number and the patent number (i.e., publication number) to find the deadlines for paying maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after grant. Each payment period has a starting time, a non-extendable deadline without additional fees, and a final deadline for late payment. Applicants should pay the corresponding maintenance fee within the specified time frame.
Specific Query Interface
