Patent Application Fee Standards Explained Clear Interpretation of Patent Fee Charging Criteria

Summary of Patent Fee Standards What is the Charging Standard for Patent Application Fees?

In modern society, intellectual property protection is receiving increasing attention, and patents, as an important part of it, have gradually become the focus of enterprises and individuals' attention regarding their application and maintenance costs. Patent fees not only affect the commercialization process of innovative achievements but also directly influence the intensity of technical development investment by enterprises or individuals. So, what exactly are the standards for patent fee charging? This article will analyze from multiple perspectives and provide references for readers based on relevant news reports.

Firstly, patent fees can be divided into three major categories application stage, review stage, and maintenance stage. During the application stage, applicants need to pay basic fees such as application fees and additional fees. For instance, according to the latest charging standards released on the official website of the China National Intellectual Property Administration CNIPA, the application fee for an invention patent is 900 RMB, while those for utility model patents and design patents are both 500 RMB. It is worth noting that for eligible small enterprises and individuals, some fees can enjoy reduction policies, which is an important measure in recent years to encourage the innovation and development of small and medium-sized enterprises. According to relevant reports from the China Intellectual Property News, in 2025, the provincial intellectual property bureau of a certain province launched various preferential policies targeting micro and small enterprises, including partial reductions in patent application fees. This undoubtedly reduces the innovation costs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Secondly, after entering the review stage, patent applicants also need to pay additional fees such as substantive examination fees and reexamination fees. Taking invention patents as an example, the substantive examination fee is 2500 RMB. If the applicant wishes to expedite the review process, they can choose to request priority review services, but this requires an additional 800 RMB expedited fee. If there are objections or rejections during the patent application process, the applicant must also pay reexamination fees. Specifically, the reexamination fee for invention patents is 1000 RMB, while for utility model and design patents, it is 300 RMB. These fees constitute the main expenditures in the patent review process. As reported by Science and Technology Daily, in recent years, our country has continuously optimized the patent review process, shortened the review cycle, and introduced artificial intelligence technology to improve review efficiency. This is of great significance for reducing indirect costs.

Thirdly, after the patent is granted, the applicant needs to regularly pay annual fees to maintain the validity of the patent rights. The amount of annual fees increases year by year with the duration of the patent, reflecting the purpose of the patent system to promote technological transformation and application. Taking invention patents as an example, the annual fee for the first to third years is 900 RMB per year, for the fourth to sixth years it is 1400 RMB per year, for the seventh to ninth years it is 2400 RMB per year, and starting from the eleventh year, it reaches 4800 RMB per year. The annual fee standards for utility model and design patents are relatively lower but still require continuous financial input. Notably, to encourage the popularization and application of patent technologies, Economic Reference News mentioned that some places have introduced reward measures for high-value patents, such as one-time subsidies or partial refunds of annual fees, thereby alleviating the burden on right holders.

Finally, in addition to the aforementioned routine fees, the service fees of patent agencies are also an indispensable part. Generally speaking, agencies charge corresponding service fees based on the complexity of the case, including writing application documents and responding to review opinions. For general invention patents, the agency fee is roughly between 3000 to 8000 RMB. Although this part of the expenditure is not mandatory, hiring experienced agents can effectively increase the success rate of patent applications for applicants without professional backgrounds. As Intellectual Property Observer pointed out, quality agency services not only help applicants avoid potential risks but also secure more rights protection for them.

In summary, the charging standards for patent fees cover the entire process from application to maintenance, with specific fee items corresponding to different types of patents and stages in their life cycles. Although overall, the composition of patent fees is complex and amounts are relatively high, related institutions have already taken a series of measures to alleviate the economic pressure on applicants, such as reduction policies and expedited review services. In the future, with the acceleration of technological innovation and the growing demand for technology transfer, it is believed that the patent fee system will further improve, providing more convenience and support for enterprises and individuals.