What are claims and how do they affect renewals?
Overview
A patent consists of a list of technical descriptions that describe the invention. The first claim is usually general, with each subsequent claim becoming more and more specific until the invention is fully described. During the patent application process, it is not unusual for the patent office in question to ask for revisions to the claims so that the application does not conflict with existing patents. Your patent attorney will be able to advise on such matters. In general, the goal is to patent as general an area as possible so that competitors are inhibited in replicating your invention to the greatest extent.
Impact on Patent Renewal
In some countries, notably Japan and Korea, the number of claims in a patent will affect the renewal fee charged by the Patent Office. See the country fees guides for these countries for further information.