Annual Fee Payment Extension for Patents enjoying China's Patent Fee Reduction Policy

Recently, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued an announcement on matters related to the payment of annual patent fees (No. 486). According to the announcement, for patents with the expiry date of annual patent fee (excluding the annual fee for the first year after grant) between June 15, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and enjoying the policy of China's patent fee reduction, the expiry date of the annual patent fee will be automatically extended to June 15, 2023, and no late fee will be incurred during the period. Where the relevant formalities are not handled and the annual fee is not paid in accordance with Article 98 of the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law upon the expiration of the extension period, the patent right shall be terminated from the date when the annual fee shall be paid in 2022.

Source:https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2022/6/10/art_74_175994.html