USPTO Trademark Fee Increase 2023 (What You Need to Know)

On May 8, 2023, the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) notified the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) about increasing U.S. trademark application fees.

The proposed changes would, among other things, raise the basic trademark fee per class from $250.00 to $350.00.

The USPTO is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. When filing a trademark application with the USPTO, the applicant applies under one or more classes depending on the goods or services offered.

For example, when trademarking a logo for the sale of t-shirts, the applicant would apply under class 25: clothing, footwear, and headwear.

In some circumstances, an applicant may apply under more than one category for the same good or service. Understanding this process is vital, as each class carries a current fee of $250.00, paid to the USPTO.

TPAC must hold a public hearing within 30 days after receiving the May 8th proposal. If the proposed changes are approved after the hearing, the USPTO estimates the fee changes will be implemented on or around November 2024.

If you would like a consultation on your trademark strategy, please get in touch with attorney Katie Wood, Esq from the AC Law team at katie@business-esq.com.