On December 4th, the European Intellectual Property Office issued a notice stating that it willStarting from May 1st, 2025Raise the annual fee for design patents and modify the renewal payment deadline rules.

Regarding the content of the notification,There are several aspects that need to be noted when applying for extra personality:

1、 The renewal fee for EU design patents has significantly increased

2、 The renewal period rules have changed

1. The revised regulations will change the calculation method for renewal.Registered EU designs will expire on the registration expiration date (previously the day after the design expiration month). And there is a six-month grace period for renewal, starting from the day after the expiration of the exterior design.

2. For design patents with an extension period before May 1, 2025, the original rules will continue to be used to determine the extension and grace period.

For example, if the exterior design was submitted on April 15, 2020, it must be renewed between November 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025. The grace period is from May 1st to October 31st, 2025.

3. For exterior designs whose renewal period begins after the new rules apply (May 1, 2025), the new rules will be used.

Therefore, if the exterior design was submitted on November 23, 2020, it will expire on November 23, 2025. It must be renewed between May 24, 2025 and November 23, 2025. The grace period is from November 24th to May 23rd, 2026.

4. The cost of renewing the design depends on the time of submitting the renewal application:

① For renewal applications received before the applicable date of the revised regulations (May 1, 2025), the pre adjustment fees will apply.

② For renewal applications received on or after May 1, 2025, the adjusted fees will apply regardless of the payment method used or when the payment is processed.

5. It should be noted that:

According to the new renewal period, users can choose to renew their designs before or after the start of the new rules (May 1, 2025) to enjoy discounted fees.

And it can only be renewed within six months before the expiration of the design.