Patent Self-Help

EPO launches new online patent filing system

October 6, 2014

The European Patent Office (EPO) has launched a new online filing system for patent applications. There has reportedly been an increase in the demand for such systems to be introduced over the last few years by patent holders frustrated with having to submit paper applications. The EPO said that it is another step towards automating the application process, minimising the risk of human error and reducing the cost of patent filing. EPO President Benoît Battistelli said: “The new system supports…

Renewal Rules Update: New Zealand

September 15, 2014

On 13th September, the maintenance and renewal rules for New Zealand changed. In summary, you need to be aware of the following key points to ensure that your next renewals are completed successfully and your patents aren’t accidentally allowed to lapse: Renewal years [alert type=”success” title=””] Instead of paying just four lump sum renewal fees over the life of the patent, you now need to pay annually, starting from the fourth anniversary of the filing date. [/alert] New fee schedule [alert…

Finding the right patent renewal solution for your company

In Brief: Three Ways To Renew Your Patents

August 29, 2014

Through Your Patent Attorney This is the quick fix. If you really don’t want to think about your renewals and you’re happy to pay to have the problem taken off your hands, this could be a good option for you. Remember that you there could be a lot of people involved in the renewals process and each one will take their cut. DIY From Scratch At the other end of the scale, you could cut out everyone else and…

Five Ways to Avoid Hidden Patent Renewal Fees

August 29, 2014

The business of finding a patent renewal can be long, expensive and (let’s face it) not exactly riveting. If you choose the wrong provider, you can end up paying through the nose in one of two ways. Some companies are extremely expensive and take advantage of the fact that you don’t know what the end costs actually are. They hide huge markups in the fee you’re quoted. Other are unreliable and you will end up paying late fees or penalty fees…

Why you may be paying 4x more than the patent office fee to renew

July 28, 2014

We were really glad to see esteemed Intellectual Property blog IPKat discussing RenewalsDesk and the hidden costs that some renewals companies charge to patent holders. One of the most discussed issues from the article is how you can be charged up to four times the official patent office fee by many renewal agencies. “Over eight million patents are held worldwide by many thousands of businesses. All have to pay regular renewal fees, usually every year, to the Patent Office for each…

Daylight robbery: The hidden fees charged for annual patent renewals

July 23, 2014

Over eight million patents are held worldwide by many thousands of businesses. All have to pay regular renewal fees, usually every year, to the Patent Office for each country to keep their patents in force. The amount payable is usually modest (£100 or so) – varying from country to country and with the age of the patent. But you can be charged up to 4 times the actual cost to make these payments! This extra cost quickly mounts up when…

Tell us your patenting gripes!

July 18, 2014

We’re very excited to announce the launch of a series of ‘Industry Focus’ blog articles looking at the role of intellectual property across a range of different industries. Having spoken to a number of patent holders from various design disciplines we have already found that there is no shortage of frustrations with the rather over-complicated system of intellectual property and costs and process of renewing intellectual property. “We think it’s incredibly important to consult with various industries regarding IP,” said…

Who really looks after your patent renewals?

July 17, 2014

There has been much debate lately about the idea of outsourcing patent applications and renewals to third parties, especially given the sensitivity of much of the data that is being processed. The vast majority of patent holders will not be aware that attorneys regularly outsource their patent annuities again, to be taken care of by a third party. Firstly, this means that renewals become more expensive than they need to be because both the attorney and the patent renewal service…

We will always tell you the patent office fee so there are no hidden fees. Ever. Email us

We will always tell you the patent office fee so there are no hidden fees. Ever.

Email us