Does Renewal During the Grace Period Cost More?

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes. Renewal filed during the grace period requires a late fee on top of the regular renewal registration fee — RMB 250 per class for paper filings, with a 10% discount for online applications.

Yes, it costs more. Renewal filed within the sixmonth grace period requires a late fee in addition to the regular renewal registration fee. Under the current fee schedule, the renewal registration fee for a paper application is RMB 500 per class and the late fee is RMB 250 per class; online filings receive a 10% discount.

Current Fee Schedule

Under the fee provisions of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance for trademark services, the official fees relating to trademark renewal are:

Fee for accepting trademark renewal registration: RMB 500 per class (paper application), RMB 450 per class (online application);
 Graceperiod late fee: RMB 250 per class (paper application), RMB 225 per class (online application).

Fees are charged per class; a trademark spanning multiple classes requires separate payment for each class. Where an agency is engaged, an agency service fee also applies, and quotes vary among agencies.

Status of Rights During the Grace Period

The grace period is not a penalty period but a statutory buffer. The exclusive right remains in force during it, and once renewal is approved the new term runs continuously from the day following the expiry of the previous term — there is no gap in the right. The extra late fee is therefore, in essence, the cost of delay and does not affect the legal effect of the renewal.

Practical Reminders

The grace period runs for six months from the expiry date of the validity period, and the deadline is not extended for statutory holidays — allow sufficient time for mailing or online filing;
 Online filing is not only cheaper but also completes submission and payment instantly, making timing more controllable;
 If a change of name is also involved for the same trademark, the change application may be filed together with the renewal to avoid backandforth corrections eating into the grace period.

Rather than paying the late fee, schedule the renewal a year in advance; the grace perio