To help the public better understand how to maintain their patent rights, TIPO has compiled the Patent Annual Fee Handbook. This handbook addresses common questions about payment deadlines, amounts, and methods for paying annual patent fees, complemented by step-by-step process illustrations to assist patent holders effectively.

Once a patent—be it for invention, utility model, or design—has undergone examination and is deemed patentable, it will be granted upon payment of the certificate fee and the first year’s annual fee. The patent is then published, and patent rights are granted from the date of publication. To maintain these rights, patent holders must pay the annual fee for the subsequent years as required. The duration of patent protection and annual fee rules vary by type (20 years for invention patents, 10 years for utility model patents, and 15 years for design patents). According to TIPO’s customer service statistics, questions about annual fees are among the most frequently asked. In response, TIPO has compiled these common inquiries into a comprehensive guide. This handbook aims to provide patent holders with sufficient knowledge on annual fee payments, ensuring the effective continuation of their patent rights.

• Publish Date : 2024-12-17
• Update : 2024-12-17
• Organization : International Legal Affairs Office
• Visitors : 166