It is correct that the patentee’s basic obligation is to pay annual fees.
Patents are protected by law and naturally require payment of corresponding fees. Paying annual fees is conducive to the effective use of resources. If a patent is idle in the hands of the patentee and is not used, it will not bring economic benefits, and others will not be able to use it, which will greatly waste social wealth. This is also the purpose of collecting annual fees.
The annual patent fee is also called the patent maintenance fee. It is indeed a burden for the patentee, especially when applying for an international patent abroad, the annual fee is higher. This is why patent applicants must first measure their capabilities. If the annual fee paid by the patentee is greater than the income brought by holding the patent, then he will not continue to pay the annual fee and hold the patent.
The patent cannot be well utilized in the hands of the patentee, which wastes resources and reduces social utility; the patent has no real market value, and of course there is no need or need for protection. Continue to pay the annual fee.
Notes on patent priority:
Priority is an ancillary right to the right to apply for a patent. Without the right to apply for a patent, there is no right of priority; only when the patent applicant files a patent Only after application has been filed, the right to apply for a patent may derive the right of priority; the right of priority has strict time limits, that is, the right of priority is only valid within the priority period stipulated by law, and will be invalid if it expires.
If the two applications filed by the patent applicant are in the same country, the priority enjoyed by the patent applicant is the domestic priority; if they are in different countries, the priority is foreign priority; claim priority The later application must have the same subject matter as the earlier basic application, but the subject matter of the later application may be an improvement of the earlier basic application.
Priority does not automatically arise. That is, if a patent applicant claims priority when filing a later application, he must file a priority claim application at the same time as the later application, and submit the corresponding valid documents as required. Priority will only be generated after the supporting documents are reviewed and passed.