What are maintenance fees for patents?
Maintenance fees are charges required to keep a patent in force after it has been granted. According to MPEP 2501, these fees are due at specific intervals after the patent grant: “Three years and 6 months after grant, $980.” “Seven years and 6 months after grant, $2,480.” “Eleven years and 6 months after grant, $4,110.”…
Read MoreWhen are maintenance fees due for utility patents?
Maintenance fees for utility patents are due at specific intervals after the patent grant. According to MPEP 2504: “Maintenance fees may be paid in patents without surcharge during the periods extending respectively from: (1) 3 years through 3 years and 6 months after grant for the first maintenance fee, (2) 7 years through 7 years…
Read MoreWhen does the USPTO send Maintenance Fee Reminders?
According to MPEP 2575, the USPTO does not send Maintenance Fee Reminders until after the grace period has begun: “Since patentees are expected to maintain their own record and docketing systems and since it is expected that most patentees will pay their maintenance fees during the window period to avoid payment of a surcharge, the…
Read MoreHow can patentees obtain a receipt for maintenance fee payments?
Patentees can obtain a receipt for maintenance fee payments by request. As stated in MPEP 2575: “Upon request, the Office will issue a receipt for payment of maintenance fees submitted by mail or facsimile after entry of the maintenance fee payment.” These receipts are sent to the fee address (or the correspondence address if no…
Read MoreHow 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…
Read MoreHow can I submit maintenance fee payments electronically?
Maintenance fee payments can be submitted electronically through the USPTO’s Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront. As stated in MPEP 2510: “Maintenance fee payments can be made electronically over the Internet at www.uspto.gov by credit card, electronic funds transfer (EFT), or by an USPTO deposit account.” This electronic system provides a convenient and secure way to pay…
Read MoreAre there reduced maintenance fees for small and micro entities?
Yes, there are significant reductions in maintenance fees for small and micro entities. According to MPEP 2520: “The maintenance fee amounts (37 CFR 1.20(e)-(h)) are subject to a 50% reduction for small entities pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 41(h) and a 75% reduction for micro entities.” This means that small entities pay only half of the…
Read MoreHow can I pay maintenance fees for multiple patents at once?
You can submit maintenance fee payments for multiple patents in a single submission. MPEP 2522 provides guidance on this process: “Maintenance fees for a number of patents can be submitted together in one submission and one payment. 37 CFR 1.366(e) specifies that if maintenance fee payments for more than one patent are submitted together, they…
Read MoreWhat is a patent owner’s obligation regarding biological deposits after a patent has issued?
A patent owner has a specific obligation regarding biological deposits after a patent has issued. According to MPEP 2407.02, “A patent owner is required to notify the Office when it obtains information that a depository possessing a deposit referenced in a patent cannot furnish samples of the deposit.” This means that patent owners must actively…
Read MoreCan I pay patent maintenance fees with a credit card?
Yes, you can pay patent maintenance fees with a credit card. According to MPEP 2522: “The maintenance fee can be charged to a credit card as set forth in 37 CFR 1.23(b), but credit for the payment is subject to actual receipt of the fee by the Office.“ When using a credit card for payment,…
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