Q: What are the methods of patent payment?
A:
1. Online payment. Users who apply for registration electronically can use the online payment system to pay patent fees by logging on the China Patent Electronic Application Network (www.cponline. gov.cn). In order to facilitate payers to obtain receipts more quickly, corporate accounts and individual accounts paying online can choose to collect receipts at the agency.
2. Bank/post office remittance and transfer. The payer may remit the patent fee through the bank or post office. When remitting patent fees, the payer shall indicate the correct application number (or patent number) and fee name (or abbreviation) in the attachment column of the remittance slip. If the above necessary information is not indicated at the time of remittance, you can log in the patent payment information online supplement and management system on the day of remittance no later than the next day of remittance（ http://fee.sipo.gov.cn ）Supplement the payment information, or send a fax or email to supplement the payment information (fax: 010-62088065, email: shoufeichu@sipo.gov.cn ）If the payment information is supplemented completely, the payment date shall be the date when the payment information is supplemented completely.
3. The patent office/agency of the State Intellectual Property Office shall hand it in person. The payer can directly pay the patent fee at the charging window of the Patent Office or the Patent Agency Office of the State Intellectual Property Office. The date of payment is the date of payment.
Q: What are the precautions for online supplement and management system of patent payment information?     
Answer: 1. The supplementary payment information must be true, complete and accurate. In particular, the remitter, remittance account number, bank of deposit, bill number, remittance amount and other information filled in by the bank or post office remittance payer must be consistent with the actual outward remittance (bank or post office receipt information). Otherwise, the supplementary payment information cannot match the actual remittance information, resulting in direct bank refund or post office refund.
2. The application number verification rules and fee types corresponding to different patent types are different, and only supplementary payment information can be generated separately. Therefore, when supplementing different types of patent payment information, orders should be generated by type, and remittances should be made at the bank or post office respectively. Different patent types correspond to different batch payment templates. When importing payment information in batch, you should first select a patent type and then download the fee information template. Incorrect selection will affect template upload.
3. If all necessary payment information is omitted or cannot be recorded in the remittance slip when the fees are remitted through the bank or post office, it shall be supplemented through the information supplement system on the day of remittance. The supplementary payment information shall not exceed the next day of remittance at the latest. If the fees are directly paid to the Patent Office of the State Intellectual Property Office (including all agencies), if the system is used, the payment information shall be filled in through the information supplement system on the day of payment.
Q: What are the ways and means of cost inquiry?
A:
1. Telephone inquiry. National application: The payer can inquire the payment information of the following 5 patents (including) by telephone. The inquiry telephone number is 010-62,356,655, and the application number or patent number shall be provided during the inquiry. International phase of PCT international patent application: 010-62088476; National stage of PCT international patent application: 010-62088300.
2. Network query. The payer can also log on the government website of the State Intellectual Property Office to access the "Chinese and multinational patent examination information query or Chinese patent affairs information query".
3. On site query. The patent office acceptance hall of the State Intellectual Property Office is equipped with a service desk for fee inquiry, which allows the payer to inquire the type, amount and payment period of the fees payable on the spot on the day of payment.
Q: What are the basis for issuing the title of the patent fee receipt?
A:
1. For cash and card payment at the window, it shall be issued according to the title of the receipt filled in by the payer on the payment list; For payment by cheque at the window, it shall be issued according to the name of the unit listed in the special financial seal on the cheque;
2. For bank remittance payment, it shall be issued according to the name of the remitter's account;
3. If the post office remits for payment, it shall be issued according to the name of the remitter;
4. For online payment system, it shall be issued according to the title of the receipt filled in by the payer.
Q: How can I apply for a refund?
Answer: The payer can submit a refund request for the patent fees overpaid, re paid or wrongly paid within 3 years from the date of payment. If the payer can neither issue a receipt nor refund the payment due to unclear handwriting or lack of necessary items in the expense remittance, the payment will be temporarily stored in the patent fee account. If the payer has supplemented and obtained the necessary information, the toll collection office (or agency) shall make temporary storage, issue a receipt and confirm the income. If the payer requests a refund, he/she can provide the refund information and a copy of the payment voucher by fax, mail or letter. If he/she requests a refund after three years from the date of payment, he/she will not be refunded.
(China Intellectual Property News | Zhang Lei)