The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced a new trademark fee adjustment rule that will take effect on January 18, 2025. This adjustment aims to provide USPTO with the necessary funding to address the growing volume of trademark applications, optimize the trademark registration process, clear unused trademarks, and combat fraud that threatens the rights of trademark holders.
Here’s a summary of the main fee adjustments:
| Fee Category | Current | Adjusted | Change |
| TEAS Standard Trademark Application | $350 | Discontinued | N/A |
| TEAS Plus Trademark Application | $250 | Discontinued | N/A |
| Trademark Application | N/A | $350 | N/A |
| Free-Text Entry of Goods Information | N/A | $200 | New |
| Statement of Use | $100 | $150 | +$50 |
| §8 Declaration of Use | $225 | $325 | +$100 |
| §9 Renewal | $300 | $325 | +$25 |
For more information on fee adjustments, please refer to the end of this article.
Purpose of the Fee Adjustments
USPTO has indicated that these changes will help drive improvements in the following areas:
- Timeliness and Quality of Trademark Examination:
By optimizing resource allocation, USPTO aims to reduce examination backlogs and provide more accurate, reliable trademark rights for stakeholders, both domestic and international. - Clearing Unused Trademarks:
Through enhanced transparency and proactive monitoring, the agency plans to remove inactive trademarks, ensuring the accuracy of the trademark registry. - Combating Fraud:
The new fees will support USPTO in developing new tools and initiatives to address fraudulent activities that undermine the rights of trademark owners. - Technology Improvement:
This adjustment will enable USPTO to upgrade its IT systems, providing more stable service support for trademark applicants and owners.
Our Recommendations
For businesses and trademark owners, these fee adjustments could impact your trademark application and maintenance strategies. To help you plan ahead and mitigate the impact of increased fees, we recommend:
- Evaluate Existing Trademark Applications:
Submit applications that meet the TEAS Plus standards as soon as possible to avoid additional fees. - Develop a Long-Term Trademark Protection Plan: Strategize your future trademark portfolio based on the new fee structure.
- Consult Professional Legal Services:
We can assist you in understanding the scope of the new fees and optimizing your trademark application and protection process.
If you have any questions or require further assistance, please feel free to contact our team of attorneys. We are here to provide you with the most professional guidance and services.
Email: ip@zyllaw.com