How does the USPTO notify patentees about maintenance fee payments?

The USPTO notifies patentees about maintenance fee payments through various means:

• Courtesy notices are sent to the correspondence address of record.
• Notices are published in the Official Gazette.
• The USPTO provides public access to patent maintenance fee information.

MPEP 2575 states: “Under the statutes and rules, the Office has no duty to notify patentees when their maintenance fees are due. It is the responsibility of the patentee to ensure that the maintenance fees are paid … to prevent expiration of the patent.” However, the USPTO does provide courtesy reminders as a service to patent holders.

To learn more:

• maintenance fee notification
• USPTO notices
• patent maintenance
• Official Gazette
• patent expiration