The Patents Rules 1995

Renewal of patents

39.—(1) If, except in the case of a European patent (UK), it is desired to keep a patent in force for a further year after the expiration of the fourth or any succeeding year from the date of filing an application for that patent as determined in accordance with section 15, Patents Form 12/77, in respect of the next succeeding year, accompanied by the prescribed renewal fee for that year, shall be filed in the three months ending with the fourth or, as the case may be, succeeding anniversary of the date of filing:

• Provided that, where a patent is granted in the three months ending with the fourth or any succeeding anniversary as so determined or at any time thereafter, Patents Form 12/77, accompanied by the prescribed renewal fee, in respect of the fifth or succeeding year may be filed not more than three months before the expiration of the fourth or relevant succeeding year but before the expiration of three months from the date on which the patent is granted.

(2) If it is desired, at the expiration of the fourth or any succeeding year from the date of filing an application for a European patent (UK), as determined in accordance with Article 80 of the European Patent Convention, and provided that mention of the grant of the patent is, or has been, published in the European Patent Bulletin, to keep the patent in force, Patents Form 12/77, accompanied by the prescribed renewal fee, shall be filed in the three months ending with the fourth or, as the case may be, succeeding anniversary of the date of filing as so determined.

• Provided that, where any renewal fee is due on, or within the period of three months after, the date of publication in the European Patent Bulletin of the mention of the grant of the patent, that renewal fee may be paid within those three months.

(3) On receipt of the prescribed renewal fee accompanied by Patents Form 12/77 duly completed, the comptroller shall (if the patent has been granted) issue a certificate of payment on the appropriate portion of that form.

(4) Where the period for payment of a renewal fee pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) above has expired, the comptroller shall, not later than six weeks after the last date for payment under that paragraph and if the fee still remains unpaid, send to the proprietor of the patent a notice reminding him that payment is overdue and of the consequences of non-payment.

(5) The comptroller shall send a notice under paragraph (4) above to—

(a) the address specified by the proprietor on payment of the last renewal fee; or

(b) where another address has been notified to him for that purpose by the proprietor since the last renewal, that address,

and, in any other case, the address for service entered in the register.

(6) A request for extending the period for payment of a renewal fee shall be made on Patents Form 12/77 and shall be accompanied by the prescribed renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee for late payment.