Patent Renewal
How Patent Renewal Works
Most patent systems require annual renewal (also called maintenance or annuity) payments to keep a granted patent in force. These payments start from a fixed point — typically a set number of years after the application filing date — and must be paid each year until the patent expires at the end of its maximum term, usually 20 years from the filing date.
Renewal fees escalate year on year by design. A patent that cost a modest amount to renew in year 3 may cost significantly more in year 15. This encourages patent holders to maintain only rights they are actively using commercially.
Renewal deadlines vary by country. In Australia, renewal fees are due annually from the 5th year after the filing date. In the UK and Europe, fees are due from year 3. In the US, maintenance fees fall due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after grant. Each jurisdiction has its own rules, fee schedules, and grace periods for late payment.
Patent Renewal Charges — What You Pay
Patent renewal costs have two components: the official IP office fee (set by government) and the ipRenewal service fee. We show both transparently before you confirm any payment. Australian patent renewal fees (IP Australia) range from a few hundred dollars in early years to over $1,000 in the final years. European Patent Office renewal fees vary by country and year. We calculate the exact fees for your specific patent before you authorise any payment.
Jurisdictions We Cover
ipRenewal manages patent renewals across key jurisdictions including: Australia (IP Australia), Europe (EPO, Unitary Patent), United Kingdom (UKIPO), United States (USPTO), Singapore (IPOS), UAE (UAE Ministry of Economy / GCC Patent Office), New Zealand (IPONZ), Malaysia (MyIPO), Israel (Israel Patent Office), Austria (Österreichisches Patentamt), and Switzerland (IPI). Contact us for any jurisdiction not listed — we maintain a broad network of renewal agents worldwide.
Why Choose ipRenewal for Patent Renewal?
Specialist Focus
ipRenewal is built specifically for IP renewal management. Our systems, processes, and expertise are dedicated to getting renewals right — on time, every time — rather than treating renewals as a side task.
Status Verification Before Every Renewal
Before processing your renewal, we verify the current status of your patent with the IP office — confirming it is still in force, ownership details are correct, and the renewal due date matches our records. This prevents errors that could result in renewals being processed for already-lapsed patents or sent to the wrong office.
Deadline Monitoring and Advance Reminders
Our portfolio management system tracks all your patent renewal deadlines and sends advance reminders well before each due date — giving you time to review, authorise, and process payment without last-minute pressure.
Transparent, Competitive Pricing
We charge a fixed service fee per renewal, disclosed upfront alongside the official IP office fee. No hidden charges, no percentage-based fees, no surprise invoices. What we quote is what you pay.
Confirmation of Renewal
After every renewal is processed, we provide written confirmation — including the renewal date, jurisdiction, official IP office receipt reference, and the new renewal due date. You have a complete paper trail for every renewal action.
What Happens If a Patent Lapses?
If a renewal payment is not made by the deadline, the patent lapses. Your exclusive rights to the invention are lost — any third party can begin manufacturing, selling, or using the invention without your permission and without paying royalties. Some jurisdictions allow restoration of a lapsed patent within a limited window (typically up to 12 months), but restoration is not guaranteed and is significantly more expensive than timely renewal. It is always better to renew on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need to start renewing my patent?
The starting point varies by country. In Australia, renewal fees are due from the 5th year after the filing date. In the UK and Europe, obligations begin from year 3. In the US, there are three maintenance fee deadlines across the patent term. When you register with ipRenewal, we calculate your specific renewal schedule based on your filing date and jurisdiction.
Is there a grace period if I miss my patent renewal date?
Most jurisdictions provide a grace period of 6 to 12 months for late renewal, with a surcharge. Australia provides a 6-month grace period; the EPO provides a 6-month grace period with a 50% surcharge. However, relying on grace periods is risky — if the grace period passes without payment, restoration may not be possible. ipRenewal’s reminder system is designed so you never need to rely on a grace period.
Can I renew a patent myself without an agent?
Yes — IP offices provide self-service renewal portals. However, managing renewals across multiple countries, tracking escalating fees, and ensuring payments reach the right offices is time-consuming and error-prone. ipRenewal removes this complexity at a transparent, competitive cost.
How do I get started with ipRenewal?
Contact us with your patent details — jurisdiction, patent number, and filing date — and we will calculate your renewal schedule, confirm the upcoming fees, and set up your portfolio in our system.
Understanding Patent Renewal: Keeping Your Invention Protected
A granted patent does not protect your invention forever automatically — it must be actively maintained through annual renewal fees known as annuities. These fees are paid to the relevant national or regional patent office every year to keep your patent in force. Fail to pay and your patent lapses, your invention enters the public domain, and any competitor can freely manufacture, sell and export it.
How Patent Renewal Works
Patent annuities typically become due from the second or third year after the filing date, continuing annually until the patent expires (usually 20 years from filing, or 25 years for pharmaceutical patents in Australia under patent term extension). Each national patent office has its own fee schedule, due dates and grace period rules. Missing a deadline triggers late fees; missing the grace period results in lapse.
Australian Patent Renewal (IP Australia)
In Australia, renewal fees for standard patents are due from the 4th year anniversary of the filing date. IP Australia provides a 6-month grace period with a surcharge. ipRenewal tracks all Australian patent renewal deadlines and handles payment directly with IP Australia on your behalf.
UK Patent Renewal (UKIPO)
UK patent renewal fees are due from the 4th year after filing. The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) requires annual payment and provides a grace period of up to 6 months with a late renewal fee. Post-Brexit, UK patent renewals are entirely separate from European Patent Office obligations.
European Patent Renewal (EPO + National Offices)
European patents granted by the EPO must be validated in each desired member state and then renewed in each country separately. The EPO itself requires renewal fees during the application phase; once granted, national patent offices collect the annual fees. ipRenewal manages renewals across all designated EPC states from a single service.
US Patent Maintenance Fees (USPTO)
US utility patents require maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after grant — not annually. These are some of the largest single IP fees in a patent’s life. Missing a US maintenance fee is particularly damaging as reinstatement requires showing the delay was unintentional.
Singapore Patent Renewal (IPOS)
Singapore patents require annual renewal fees from the 5th year of the filing date. The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) allows a grace period of 12 months with a prescribed late fee — one of the more generous grace periods in the region.
What Happens If a Patent Lapses?
A lapsed patent means your invention is no longer protected. Anyone can make, use or sell the technology described in the patent. In some cases, restoration is possible — but it requires a formal application, evidence that the non-payment was unintentional, additional fees, and approval from the patent office. Restoration is not guaranteed. Prevention through timely renewal is always the better path.
Frequently Asked Questions About Patent Renewal
How much does patent renewal cost?
Patent renewal fees vary significantly by country and by the age of the patent — fees typically escalate as the patent gets older, incentivising patentees to only maintain patents that remain commercially valuable. Australian renewal fees start at around AUD $390 for year 4 and increase each year. European country fees vary by state. Our service fee is added on top of the official fee and is transparent and fixed.
Can I renew a lapsed patent?
In most jurisdictions there is a grace period (typically 6 months) during which you can pay overdue fees with a surcharge. Beyond that, restoration applications may be possible but are not guaranteed. If you believe a patent has lapsed due to non-payment, contact us immediately — the sooner we act, the better the options available.
Who pays patent renewal fees — the inventor or the company?
Renewal fees must be paid by the registered owner of the patent. If a patent has been assigned from the original inventor to a company, the company is responsible for renewal. We can manage renewals for both individual inventors and corporate patent portfolios.
Do you handle international patent portfolios?
Yes. We manage patent renewals across 50+ jurisdictions. Whether your portfolio spans Australia, Europe, the US, UK, Asia or further, we track all due dates, fee schedules and grace periods in a single service. You receive consolidated reporting and one point of contact for all renewals.
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