What is patent renewal, and do patents need to be renewed?
Reviewed by
Dominic Davies, patent attorney (20+ years)
· Last reviewed
September 7, 2026
Patents don't "renew" beyond their maximum term, but they do require ongoing payments to stay in force: annual renewal fees in most countries, including the UK and Germany, or US maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after grant. US design and plant patents require no ongoing payments at all.
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