Maintenance of design patents

A design patent must be maintained every 5 years. The maintenance fee is payable for 5 years at a time, and the amount of the fee is calculated in accordance with the Regulations on Patent and Other Fees in force on the date of maintenance of the patent.

Currently, fees are paid simultaneously for the 5 years of maintenance before the expiration of the statutory 25-year patent term. Payment is due within the last year of the previous 5-year period.