Is it necessary to pay an annual fee to protect the invention patent?

In China, there is an annual fee for protecting invention patents, which is called patent annual fee. According to the provisions of China's patent law, the patentee needs to pay the annual patent fee according to the prescribed time and amount to keep the patent valid.

According to the regulations of China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the annual fee for invention patents in China is paid from the third year after the patent right is granted. The specific payment schedule and fee standard will vary according to the number of years of the patent. Generally speaking, the amount of annual patent fee will increase year by year with the increase of patent life.

If the patentee fails to pay the annual patent fee on time, the patent right shall be invalid. In addition, China's patent law also stipulates a certain grace period, during which the patentee can pay the annual patent fee, but it needs to pay an additional late fee.

Therefore, in our country, it is really necessary to pay patent fees every year to protect invention patents, so as to ensure the continued effectiveness and protection of patents. The patentee or his agent shall pay close attention to the payment period, fulfill the payment obligation in time, and avoid losing the patent rights and interests.