Decreased Filing Fees & Increased Efficiency Promises USPTO
Decreased Filing Fees – In what should come as great news to attorneys and their clients, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has amended several regulations that will increase electronic processing of trademark applications while reducing application fees. To achieve this, the USPTO will offer additional electronic application processing through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) and will communicate with registrants via email. The USPTO said that the ease of electronic filing through TEAS and email communication will streamline and simplify procedures for all users. (Read the USPTO’s Final Rule in the Federal Register here.)
Of particular note are the proposals for decreased filing fees for the following: trademarks, certification marks, collective membership marks, and collective trademark applications for registration on the Principal or Supplemental Register that are filed using TEAS. Filing fees have also been reduced for TEAS Plus applications for registration, TEAS applications for renewals, and TEAS requests for transformation of an extension of protection to the United States into a U.S. application filed under 37 CFR 7.31.
The USPTO wrote that decreased filing fees will continue a “sustainable funding model,” support objectives related to online filing and electronic management, and will also improve efficiency.
Decreased Filing Fees – Fees have been reduced for the following:
(1) – Applications filed using the “regular” TEAS application form and TEAS request for transformation of an extension of protection to the United States into a U.S. application (now $275 per class if applicant authorizes email communication, a $50 fee reduction). The reduced fees are granted so long as the applicant authorizes email communication and files specified documents throughout the application process.
(2) – TEAS Plus application (now $225 per class, a $50 reduction)
(3) – TEAS application for renewal of a registration (now $300 per class, a $100 reduction)
The USPTO released its final ruling in mid-December, and the amendments will take effect on January 17, 2015.
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If you need assistance with a trademark, copyright, IP issue, or related business matter, call Orange County Trademark attorney Anthony Cartee today at (714) 942-2225 or contact us online.
