Instruction Due Dates are when we ask our customers to provide instructions (Pay, Paid Elsewhere, Abandon) for their annuities and prepare payment. This date is typically set 2 months before the actual annuity due date. We do this to ensure instructions and payment are received and processed and the annuity attended to in a timely manner. Submitting instructions and making payment by this date helps ensure annuities are paid before Grace Period, and to avoid Grace Period Late Fee/Surcharges. As a reminder, Black Hills IP Renewals does not attend to annuities until funds are received.
In our portal, under the Renewal Center section->Instructions tab, you will find the Instruction Due Date as the first date listed for matters. See screenshot below.
What is an Annuity/Maintenance Fee/Renewal Due Date?
An Annuity/Maintenance Fee/Renewal Due Date is the date when Annuity/Maintenance Fee/Renewal Fee payment needs to be made at the corresponding countries’ patent office. Not paying by this date can result in late fees/surcharges, and ultimately, loss of patent rights. How this date is calculated is based on the corresponding countries’ patent laws, and many factors can contribute to the calculation. Black Hills IP Renewals calculates and tracks these dates in our online portal so that you don't have too!
In our portal, under the Renewal Center section->Instructions tab, you will find the Renewal Date when you select the arrow on the far right to expand matter details. See screenshot below.
What is an Invoice Due Date?
Invoice Due Dates are when we ask our customers to provide payment by to ensure annuity payment is guaranteed. This date is set 30 days before the earliest Annuity/Maintenance Fee/Renewal Fee due date on an invoice. As a reminder, Black Hills IP Renewals does not guarantee payment of annuities within 30 days of an Annuity/Maintenance Fee/Renewal Fee due date or Grace Period End Date/Deadline Date.
In our portal, under the Renewal Center section->Invoices tab, you will find the Invoice Payment Due Date for open invoices. See screenshot below.
What is a Grace Period End Date/Deadline Date?
Most countries have what is called a Grace Period. This is a period following the Annuity/Maintenance Fee/Renewal Fee Due Date that annuity payment can still be made with an additional late fee/surcharge. The length of time and amount due for grace period is set by the corresponding country. However, most countries have a grace period of 6 months. The last day in the Grace Period is the Grace Period End Date/Deadline Date. If the annuity is not handled by that day, the patent will lapse and patent rights will be lost.
To easily identify matters in Grace Period in the Renewal Center section, under the Instructions tab of our portal, we change the font color for the Instruction Due Date to red.
