Maintain Your Patent
All utility patents which issue from applications filed on or after December 12, 1980 are subject to maintenance fees, which must be paid to maintain the patent in force. These fees are due 3 1/2, 7 1/2 and 11 1/2 years from the date of the original patent grant. Fee payments must include both patent and application numbers. If the fee is being paid for reissue, the application number required is the reissue application number. To access information on the current fees and costs associated with your patent, access the fee schedule .
Three Ways To Pay
There are 3 ways you may pay maintenance fees on your patent:
- Revenue Accounting Management (RAM) System
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
- Pay by Mail: For submitting a maintenance fee payment through the mail, a copy of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) " Maintenance Fee Transmittal Form “ . The USPTO mailing address for maintenance fee payments is:
P.O. Box 979070
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000
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