USPTO Fee Increases Effective on Presidential Signature

The American Intellectual Property Law Association reported today that Congress passed H.R. 4818 on November 20, 2004with USPTO fee increases and appropriations incorporated into an omnibus appropriations bill. The fee increases will become effective immediately upon the signing of the bill by the President, "so patent and trademark applicants and owners and registrants have a short window of time to take this into account in their decisions to file applications, pay maintenance fees, and renew trademark registrations."

AIPLA members click here for a summary of the relevant provisions.

(Don't tell my wife where you saw this. She won't like that I'm working during our vacation.)