The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced significant changes to its trademark fee schedule, effective January 18, 2025. These updates include higher fees for several filings, the elimination of the “TEAS-PLUS” option, and a shift toward incentivizing simpler, more straightforward trademark applications.
Key Updates to the Fee Structure
The revised structure introduces a base fee of $350 per class for most trademark applications. Additional charges will apply for certain scenarios, emphasizing the importance of submitting precise and efficient filings:
- Insufficient Information: Applicants will face a $100 per class fee for omitting any of the 19 required details.
- Free-Form Descriptions: A $200 per class fee will apply for manually entered goods or services descriptions that do not use the USPTO’s Trademark Identification Manual.
- Lengthy Descriptions: Applications with free-form text exceeding 1,000 characters will incur a $200 fee for every additional 1,000 characters.
Increased Fees for Key Services
Alongside the new filing rules, several existing fees will also rise:
- Madrid Protocol Filings (Section 66(a)): Increased from $500 to $600 per class.
- Intent-to-Use Statements of Use: Increased from $100 to $150 per class.
- Section 8/71 Renewal (Declaration of Use): Increased from $225 to $325 per class.
- Section 9 Registration Renewal: Increased from $300 to $325 per class.
- Petitions to the Director: Increased from $250 to $400.
- Petitions to Revive Applications: Increased from $150 to $250.
These adjustments aim to streamline the examination process and encourage applicants to provide complete and accurate submissions. Prospective filers are advised to carefully review the new requirements and plan accordingly to avoid additional costs.
Stay informed and prepare for these changes to ensure a smooth trademark application process in 2025! Feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance with your trademark application.
