The Long-Term Consequences of Not Paying Maintenance Fees

Maintenance fees must be paid to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office(USPTO) to keep a patent in force. If the invention covered by the patent is not in use at the time a maintenance fee becomes due or if the patent owner is short of funds, the patent owner may decide to not pay the fee. Long-term considerations, however, should be factored into the decision to make or not make the payment.