Surprise, surprise! Although no one is ever shocked to hear of a government agency announcing a need to raise charges for services, can anyone recall a government agency recognizing and acknowledging its fees are higher than necessary?

For those applying for United States trademark registrations, or the required renewals every ten years of existing registrations, there is surprising news. Filing fees are falling!

In relation to trademark registration applications filed electronically, the current United States Patent & Trademark Office filing fees associated with the various types of applications are $275 or $325 per class of goods and services to be covered by the applied for registration. As for paper filings handled through the mail, or hand delivery, the charge is $375 per class. (Query: Why would anyone file the old fashioned way by paper, it's not as easy as electronic filing, and all types of applications for trademark registration can now be handled electronically? Let us know when you think of an answer...)

The current governmental fees associated with filings every ten years to renew an existing registration are $500 per class of goods and services. Effective January 15, these fees are all being reduced. That's right -- reduced! The government fee associated with the various types of electronically filed applications for registration will be reduced $50 to either $225 or $275 per class of goods and services to be covered by the applied for registration. As for renewals, the government fees will be reduced $100 to $400 per class of goods and services covered by the registration.

Now that's the kind of good news one does not normally expect.

PS. Hold up on new filings and renewals until on or after January 15.

The lawyers at Trademarkology provide trademark registration services backed by the experience and service of one of the nation's oldest law firms. Click here to contact us.