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USPTO has Set a Date for the Implementation of the Adjusted Patent Fee Schedule
On August 3, 2020 the USPTO issued a final rule that will alter patent fees for the first time in almost three years. the summary of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 final patent fee rule noted that the fee adjustments are necessary to “adjust to increasing costs and to provide necessary resources for Patent operations, including implementing the USPTO 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.” the final rule increases most of the impacted fees by about five percent. Additionally, the final rule discontinued three patent service fees and one OED service fee. the new patent fee schedule will be effective on October 2, 2020, except for the surcharge for non-DOCX filings, which will be effective on January 1, 2022. According to the USPTO, the state of the US economy, the operational needs of the agency, and the comments and advice received from the public during the 60-day comment period were all considerations in the decision to delay the effective date of the new patent fee schedule. See the Table of Patent Fee Adjustments and the Summary of FY 2020 Final Patent Fee Rule for more information regarding the set and adjusted fees. 
FDRA’s monthly IP Report covers recent litigation, legal news, as well as US Patent Office updates including patents for utility, design, and trademarks. This report is for FDRA members only and is to assist designers, development and legal teams as they look to develop new product and protect their IP.
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