What is the “Window Period” for patent maintenance fee payments?
The “Window Period” for patent maintenance fee payments refers to the specific timeframe during which these fees can be paid without incurring late fees or risking patent expiration. According to MPEP 2575: “The ‘window period’ is the period of time at the end of the full term of a patent during which the maintenance fee…
Read MoreWhat happens if I submit a maintenance fee payment that doesn’t match my entity status of record?
If you submit a maintenance fee payment that conflicts with the USPTO’s record of your entity status, you will receive a notice. MPEP 2550 explains: If you overpay (based on the entity status of record), you’ll receive an Overpayment Notice. If you underpay (based on the entity status of record), you’ll receive an Underpayment Notice.…
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