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.”
These fees are crucial for maintaining the validity of a patent throughout its term.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 2500 - Maintenance Fees,
MPEP 2501 - Introduction,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure