A number of patent fee changes will go in effect January 1, 2014. Notably, the issue fees of all applications will decrease dramatically. Small and micro entity fees will now be available for a number of PCT fees. The assignment recordation fee has also been eliminated if filing electronically.
Patent Post-Allowance Fees
Utility issue fee – fee decrease from $1,780/$890/$445 to $960/$480/$240.
Reissue issue fee – fee decrease from $1,780/$890/$445 to $960/$480/$240.
Design issue fee – fee decrease from $1,020/$510/$255 to $560/$280/$140.
Plant issue fee – fee decrease from $1,400/$700/$350 to $760/$380/$190.
Publication fee for early, voluntary, or normal publication – fee decrease from $300 to $0.
PCT Fees – International Stage
Transmittal fee – new small/micro entity fee of $120/$60.
Search fee – regardless of whether there is a corresponding application (see 35 U.S.C. 361(d) and PCT Rule 16) – new small/micro entity fee of $1,040/$520.
Supplemental search fee when required, per additional invention – new small/micro entity fee of $1,040/$520.
Transmitting application to Intl. Bureau to act as receiving office – new small/micro entity fee of $120/$60.
Preliminary examination fee – U.S. was the ISA – new small/micro entity fee of $300/$150.
Preliminary examination fee – U.S. was not the ISA – fee increase from $750 to $760.
Preliminary examination fee – U.S. was not the ISA – new small/micro entity fee of $380/$190.
Supplemental examination fee per additional invention – new small/micro entity fee of $300/$150.
Late payment fee – new small/micro entity fee of variable.
Patent Service Fees
Recording each patent assignment, agreement or other paper, per property – if submitted electronically – fee decrease from $40 to $0.(If not submitted electronically, the fee amount remains $40.)