IP News

Patent Fee Increase

The USPTO has announced patent fee changes that will take effect on October 2, 2020. These fee changes include an approximate 5% across-the-board adjustment to patent fees. A few changes are out of the 5% range, which include, notably, (1) Issue Fee and Reissue Issue fee: 20% increase to $1200, (2) First (3.5 year) Maintenance Fee: 25% increase to $2000, (3), Late Maintenance Fee Payment Surcharge: 21.3% increase to $500, and (4) Expedited Examination of a Design Patent Application: 78% increase to $1600. A complete listing of all fees can be found in the Table of Patent Fee Adjustments. No changes have been announced for trademark fees.