What are Divisional or Continuation Applications and how are they related to renewal fees?
Divisional Applications
A divisional patent application is a new patent application by an applicant (or applicants). It is based on an earlier patent or application and at least one of the new applicants must have been an applicant on the earlier application. It must be a new inventive step based on the claims of the earlier application.
When the divisional application is submitted, a bundle of renewal fees must be paid. The total of the bundle is the sum of all renewal fees that would have been paid had the divisional application actually been submitted at the same time as the earlier original application. The renewal fees, as they are due on submission, will usually be managed by the engaged patent attorney. RenewalsDesk can provide assistance with calculating the level of fees due.
Continuation Applications
A continuation patent application is a new application also based on an earlier patent or application. It differs from a divisional application in that it is does not require an inventive step. That is, the new application is usually simply adding new claims onto those made in the former.
RenewalsDesk
The online RenewalsDesk system handles only standard renewals. To pay the first renewal bundle for one of the above types of application, contact care@renewalsdesk.com.