In most patent laws, maintenance fees or renewal fees need to be periodically paid during the term of a patent in order to maintain it into force. Some patent laws provide for the payment of maintenance fees for patent applications as well, i.e. before the grant of the patent. In countries where maintenance fees are to be paid annually, they are sometimes called annuities.

In an unprecedent move, on December 22, 2005, the Italian Parliament approved the cancellation of all maintenance fees due for European patents validated in Italy, and for Italian patents, utility models and designs, as from January 1, 2006 ^*. As of January 2006, it remained to be seen whether the decree would not be reversed after the general election of April 2006, i.e. in a couple of months from then.

External links

• European Patent Convention (EPC)
  • : Payments by the Contracting States in respect of renewal fees for European patents
  • : Renewal fees for European patent applications
  • : Renewal fees for European patents
  • : Payment of renewal fees

Patent law