USPTO Seeking Comments on Proposed Trademark Fee Adjustments
WASHINGTON – May 27, 2016 − The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to set or increase certain trademark fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). The proposed fees will allow the USPTO to recover the aggregate estimated cost of Trademark operations, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) operations, and administrative services.
Prior to issuing the NPRM, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Ms. Michelle K. Lee, notified the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) of the Office’s intent to set or adjust trademark fees. The TPAC held a public hearing in Alexandria, VA, on November 3, 2015. The TPAC released its report regarding the proposed fees on November 30, 2015. The USPTO posted a Federal Register Notice to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on possible adjustments to trademark application fees.
Under the NPRM, the new fees will further USPTO strategic objectives by better aligning fees with the full cost of products and services. The new fees will also protect the integrity of the register by incentivizing more timely filing or examination of applications, other filings, and more efficient resolution of appeals and trials; in addition to promoting the efficiency of the process, in large part through incentivizing lower-cost electronic filing options. The proposed fee change will further strengthen the USPTO's core mission strategic goal of serving the public in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
Source: http://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/uspto-seeking-comments-proposed-trademark-fee-adjustments