Recently the National Development and Reform Commission ("NDRC") and the Ministry of Finance ("MOF") jointly issued the Circular on Issues Relating to the Annual Fee and Individual Designation Fee Standards for Design Patents (the "Circular"), effective from May 5, 2022.

The Circular states that: (1) The annual fee standard for design patents in the 11^th through 15^th years of patent term shall be CNY3,000 per year. (2) The individual designation fee standards shall be: CNY4,100 for the first stage (1^st-5^th years), CNY7,600 for the second stage (6^th-10^th years), and CNY15,000 for the third stage (11th-15th years). (3) Any entity to collect the fees shall strictly implement the above provisions, and must not add fee items, expand the scope of fees to be charged or change the fee standards without proper authorization. (4) The price, finance and market regulation authorities shall step up the supervision and inspection of the implementation of this Circular, and impose legal penalties on those who fail to follow the fee standards as required.

(Source: National Development and Reform Commission)