Design renewal fees in the European Union: costs, due dates and grace period
A registered design in the European Union lasts up to 25 years from the filing date. The first renewal falls due before the end of year 5, and renewals then run every 5 years. Miss one and you have 6 months to put it right, with a surcharge of 25% of the renewal fee.
What are the design renewal due dates in the European Union?
The European Union protects a registered design for up to 25 years from the filing date. Renewal falls due every 5 years, 4 times in all.
The first renewal falls due before the end of year 5, payable to EUIPO. It carries the design into year 6.
For example, if the filing date is 2015-03-15, the first renewal is due by 2020-03-15.
Each further renewal runs every 5 years on the same basis, until the 25-year maximum is reached. There is no extension beyond it.
For example, protection can be kept alive until 2040-03-15, after which no further renewal is possible.
The European Union is a member of the Hague System. A registered EU design filed directly with EUIPO is renewed by paying EUIPO. Where protection instead comes from an international registration designating the European Union, the renewal is paid directly to WIPO's International Bureau. WIPO registers designs and does not grant them, so EUIPO remains free to refuse protection under its own law.
A design registered here can be kept alive for at most 25 years. The first renewal falls due on 15 Mar 2020, and renewals then run every 5 years, 4 in total. Miss one and you have 6 months to put it right with a surcharge, until 15 Sep 2020 in this example.
Official design renewal fees by year in the European Union
Official fees payable to the EUIPO, in EUR. Renewal falls due every 5 years, 4 times in all, to keep the design alive for the full 25 years.
| Renewal | Official fee (EUR) | Cumulative (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 6 | 150 | 150 |
| Year 11 | 250 | 400 |
| Year 16 | 400 | 800 |
| Year 21 | 700 | 1,500 |
| Full term, years 6 to 25 | 1,500 | |
The renewal fees for registered EU designs in EUIPO vary depending on whether the registered EU design is a national registration or an international registration through the WIPO. For international registrations, fees also depend on the number of registered EU designs in the application and whether it is a family registration.
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Missed a design renewal deadline in the European Union?
A six-month grace period runs from the expiry date. You can still renew inside it, with a surcharge of 25% of the renewal fee. The current renewal fees apply to renewal requests received on or after 1 May 2025, under the EU design reform; earlier requests were charged the previous scale. Once the grace period closes, the design lapses.
If the renewal due on 15 Mar 2020 is missed, the design stays recoverable for 6 months, until about 15 Sep 2020 in this example.
Design renewal fees in other jurisdictions
The same schedule, deadlines and grace rules, in the jurisdictions we are asked about most.
Looking for a different jurisdiction?
Design renewal fees and deadlines in every jurisdiction we cover.
Other IP renewals in EUIPO
Designs aren't the only rights that lapse without renewal. EUIPO also protects patents and trademarks. Each on its own schedule and fee scale.
Patents
Trademarks
Renewal terms and official fees for trademarks in EUIPO.
What happens to an EUIPO design before it has been registered?
There are no annuities due in the EUIPO before the patent is granted. Once the patent has been granted, annuities must be paid in accordance with the renewal interval described above under the section Due Dates.
When can I pay the renewal fee in EUIPO?
The renewal fee in EUIPO can be paid up to 6 months before the renewal due date. It is important to note that the renewal fee cannot be paid earlier than this. Any payments made before the opening of the payment window will result in the payment being rejected.
Can I renew a registered EU design after I miss a renewal due date?
Yes, it is possible to renew an EUIPO registered EU design after its renewal due date. If you fail to pay the renewal fee before the due date, a grace period of 6 months is given wherein the renewal fees can still be settled. When entering the grace period you will incur a surcharge fee to be settled along with the renewal fee. If you wish to maintain the registered EU design, both the renewal fee and the surcharge fee will have to be settled. For example, if a registered EU design has a renewal due date of 2021-05-31 and the due date is missed, the registered EU design will enter the grace period from 2021-06-01. After this point both the renewal fee and the surcharge fee will need to be settled by 2021-11-30. Failure to pay these fees before the surcharge due date will result in the registered EU design lapsing.
How long do registered EU designs last in EUIPO?
A registered EU design will stay in force for 25 years in EUIPO from the filing date if successfully renewed. Failure to pay the renewal fees will result in the registered EU design lapsing.
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