Legal basis: measures for the reduction and exemption of patent annual fee
Article 2 Where it is really difficult for the applicant or patentee to pay the relevant patent fees, he may request the China National Intellectual Property Administration Patent Office (hereinafter referred to as the Patent Office) to postpone the payment of the relevant fees in accordance with these Measures.
Article 3 With the approval of the Patent Office, the following patent fees may be reduced or exempted: application fee (including publication printing fee and application surcharge); 2. Examination fee for application for patent for invention; Annual fee (within six years from the year when the patent right is granted); 4. Review fee.
Article 4 Where the applicant or the patentee is an individual, he may request that 85% of the application fee, examination fee and annual fee for an application for a patent for invention be deferred, and 80% of the maintenance fee and examination fee for an application for a patent for invention be deferred. Where the applicant or the patentee is a unit, it may request a postponement of 70% of the application fee, examination fee and annual fee for an application for a patent for invention, and 60% of the maintenance fee and examination fee for an application for a patent for invention. Where two or more individuals or individuals and units apply for a patent at the same time, they may request that 70% of the application fee, examination fee and annual fee for an application for a patent for invention and 60% of the maintenance fee and examination fee for an application for a patent for invention be deferred. If more than two * * * units apply for a patent at the same time, the patent fee will not be slowed down.