1. A periodic payment required to maintain a privilege, such as a license.
2. A charge for keeping an improvement in working condition or a residential property in habitable condition. — Also termed maintenance assessment.
3. A fee charged for reinvesting earnings and dividends in mutual funds.
4. Patents. The periodic charge that a patentee must pay the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in order to keep the patent in force. • U.S. maintenance fees are due 3 1/2, 7, and 11 1/2 years from the date the patent is issued. [Cases: Patents 103. C.J.S. Patents § 144.]
