Annuities & Renewals
Every intellectual property is valid for a determined period of time. Protection terms differ whether properties are trademark, patent, or industrial design.
Trademarks if in use could be renewed after the end of first-10-year protection term by application date for a further 10 years.
Renewal period starts by 6 months prior the term-end. In case the official fee could not be paid before the last day, it could be paid with fine within the extended 6 months.
Applicants should submit following documents for trademark renewal request before TPI:
-Petition requesting renewal
-Bank receipt of official renewal payment
-Power of Attorney
Industrial designs are subject to renewal for 5-year-term and a design can be renewed 4 times at most. That means they have 25 year protection in total by the application date if renewed in every 5-year-term.
Applicants should submit following documents for industrial design renewal request before TPI:
-Petition requesting renewal
-Bank receipt of official renewal payment
-Power of Attorney
As to patents, they are valid as far as annuity payments are effected in due terms of application date each year. Since protection term is for 20 years each year starting with the 2nd one, applicants pay annuities before TPI to maintain their rights. In case there is no payment annually, the patent right will expire and application will be invalid.
