Renewing your patent in the UK
Understand UK patent renewal deadlines, payment rules, and the steps to take if you miss a renewal date.
Your patent remains valid only if you renew it regularly. Missing renewal deadlines can result in your patent lapsing, leaving your invention unprotected. You can renew your UK patent online, by post or by phone with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
Key patent renewal timelines
The IPO has clear timeframes for the UK patent renewal process. These determine when you must renew your patent and pay the associated fees.
Initial renewal
Your first renewal fee is due on the fourth anniversary of your patent's filing date. So, if you filed on 15 March 2021, your first renewal will be due by 15 March 2025.
Special conditions apply if your patent is granted more than three years and nine months after the filing date - a situation referred to as a 'late grant'. In such cases, your first renewal fee is due three months after the grant, by the last day of that month. You may also need to pay multiple renewal fees at once to cover any missed years. For example, if your patent is granted in its fifth year, you must pay the renewal fees for both the fourth and fifth years together.
Subsequent renewals
After the first renewal, you can renew your patent every year, up to its maximum term of 20 years. You must renew annually near the 'due date' - the last day of the month in which you first filed.
Payment deadlines and grace period
You can renew up to three months before, or within one month after, the due date without penalties. You can still renew up to six months after the due date, but you'll pay a late fee of 拢24 for each overdue month, as well as the annual fee.
Find more details on the various .
Patent renewal fees in the UK
Patent renewal fees start at 拢70 in year 5 and increase every year, reaching 拢610 in year 20. This means costs of renewal go up as your patent gets older. If you plan to keep your patent for a while, make sure to budget for the higher fees in later years to keep costs under control. Get the full breakdown of .
Remembering to renew your patent
You should set up reminders or, if you have several patents in your portfolio, use patent management tools to track renewal deadlines. You can also sign up for the IPO's email notification service to help you stay on track.
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If you miss the renewal date, the IPO will send you a reminder by post to your last known address. To update your postal address, you'll need to contact the IPO.
Restoring a lapsed patent
If you miss the six-month late renewal deadline, you have 13 more months to apply to restore your patent. You'll need to explain why you missed the deadline and . If the IPO approves your application, you can renew your patent as normal. If your application is rejected, the IPO will let you know, and you can request a hearing to appeal the decision. Keep in mind, you won't get a refund if the IPO turns your application down.
Keeping your patent details up to date
It's important to keep your patent details accurate and up to date to protect its value and enforceability. If you need to correct errors, update ownership, or change contact information, . For more significant changes, such as addressing objections after grant, you must .