Certain Fees to be Adjusted The House and Senate passed on November 19, 1999, the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 as part of the conference report (H. Rpt. 106-479) on H.R. 3194, Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2000. The text of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 is contained in Title IV of S. 1948, the Intellectual Property and Communications Omnibus Reform Act of 1999, which is incorporated by reference in Division B of the conference report. This bill contains language that will decrease certain patent fees and increase certain trademark fees as shown below. The President is expected to sign the legislation. However, the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) does not know when the President will sign the legislation. A final rule amending the rules of practice in patent and trademark cases to indicate the new fee amounts will be published in the Federal Register. This notice constitutes the publication requirement for the Official Gazette of the Patent and Trademark Office. The final rule and the new PTO fee schedule will be posted to the PTO Web site in the near future. The effective date for the amendments to the fee amounts in 37 CFR 1.16, 1.20, and 1.492 (shown in bold) will be 30 days after the enactment date of H.R. 3194 (S. 1948), that is, 30 days after the President signs the legislation. The effective date for the amendments to the fee amounts in 37 CFR 1.17 and 2.6 (shown in italics) will be January 10, 2000. Section 1.53(d), which relates to a continued prosecution application (CPA), is not being revised by H.R. 3194 (S. 1948). However, it should be noted that section 1.53(d)(3) requires payment of the basic filing fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16. Patent and trademark customers are responsible for paying the correct fee amounts. We advise our customers to refer to the official PTO Web site (www.uspto.gov), or contact the PTO General Information Services Division at (703) 308-4357 or (800) PTO-9199 for the most current fee amounts and information. Patent Fees 37 CFR Sec. Description Current Fee New Fee Amount Amount 1.16(a) Basic filing fee -- Utility $760 $690 1.16(a) Basic filing fee -- Utility $380 $345 (Small Entity) 1.16(a) Basic filing fee -- Utility $760 $690 (CPA) 1.16(a) Basic filing fee -- Utility $380 $345 (CPA) (Small Entity) 1.16(h) Reissue filing fee $760 $690 1.16(h) Reissue filing fee $380 $345 (Small Entity) 1.16(h) Reissue filing fee (CPA) $760 $690 1.16(h) Reissue filing fee (CPA) $380 $345 (Small Entity) 1.17(r) Filing a submission $760 $690 after final rejection (1.129(a)) 1.17(r) Filing a submission $380 $345 after final rejection (1.129(a)) (Small Entity) 1.17(s) Per additional invention $760 $690 to be examined (1.129(b)) 1.17(s) Per additional invention $380 $345 to be examined (1.129)b)) (Small Entity) 1.20(e) Maintenance fee - $940 $830 due at 3.5 years 1.20(e) Maintenance fee - $470 $415 due at 3.5 years (Small Entity) 1.492(a)(2) ISA - U.S. $760 $690 1.492(a)(2) ISA - U.S. (Small Entity) $380 $345 Trademark Fees 37 CFR Sec. Description Current Fee New Fee Amount Amount 2.6(a)(1) Application for registration, $245 $325 per class 2.6(a)(4) Extension for filing $100 $150 Statement of Use, per class 2.6(a)(5) Application for renewal, $300 $400 per class 2.6(a)(13) Filing section 15 affidavit, $100 $200 per class 2.6(a)(16) Petition for cancellation, $200 $300 per class 2.6(a)(17) Notice of opposition, per class $200 $300 Questions or comments concerning this notice should be forwarded to Matthew Lee by telephone at (703) 305-8051, by e-mail at matthew.lee@uspto.gov, or by facsimile at (703) 305-8007, or by mail marked to his attention and addressed to the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Office of Finance, Crystal Park 1, Suite 802, Washington, D.C. 20231. November 24, 1999 Q. TODD DICKINSON Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks